Clear Path to Peace

The following is a guest blog post from my friend Andrew Oser, a spiritual life coach who’s been tuned in to the political scene in the United States for a long time. I hope you enjoy and ponder his words.

The tragic shooting in Arizona on Saturday is certainly a wake-up call for our country.  Let’s not make the mistake of seeing it merely as the isolated act of a lunatic.

Our political dialogue has fallen to an abysmal level over the past couple decades.  The tone, not only of  campaigns, but of our nation’s leaders in Washington, DC has become bitterly partisan and increasingly mean.   Rigid ideologies, misrepresentation of facts, and cruel personal attacks have taken the place of open dialogue, often derailing solutions to our nation’s many serious problems.

I’ve always believed that we get the leaders (as well as the commentators) we deserve.  So, let’s not point fingers at the folks in DC—or the folks spewing out hatred and misinformation over the airwaves and the Internet.  Let’s instead look in the mirror.  Let’s look at the places of judgment, self- righteousness, and even hatred in our hearts that are being reflected (as well as pandered to) by the commentators and the politicians.

When we look in the mirror, let’s not judge ourselves harshly.  Rather, let’s see clearly how we’ve contributed to creating the climate that led to the shooting on Saturday.  Then, let’s find a place of forgiveness in our hearts, first for ourselves, then for the hate-mongering commentators and politicians, and finally for the assassin himself.

From this place of forgiveness, we’ll remember that we’re all in this together and engage in constructive dialogue, cooperatively moving toward a peaceful, prosperous America.

— Andrew Oser, Summit Coaching Services

If you’re a woman, what do you want? If you’re a man, do you know what women want? Dr. Oz, medical advisor to Oprah and ubiquitous TV gadfly, touched on the big secret recently. On his show, $5 to Look 5 Years Younger, Dr. Oz exposed his intimate knowledge of the modern woman’s psyche.

Guests on the show, Susan and Holly, each admit they spend thousands of dollars per year on beauty creams and products. How much do you spend? Think about it. My reason for asking is not to be nosy, but to suggest, as Dr. Oz does, another alternative.

Dr. Oz and his staff show us the cool home facial – for less than $5. Great idea – thanks!*

But my interest in how much you spend on beauty products, dear modern woman, is to raise your consciousness about how you are affecting your own self-esteem and the planet by your actions.

What else could you be doing with all that money, time and energy – instead of drooling over digitally enhanced 22 year old models and wishing you could turn back the clock?

Who needs your help around the globe, who could use your attention and love – instead of the multi-national corporations who scheme to get you hooked on the next, better-than-last-year’s, crone-defying snake oil?

Poor women and children, that’s who. Men, too, and environmental sustainability programs and animal rights organizations and half-way houses.

Real women want to serve a cause greater than themselves. Real women care about the health and welfare of all creatures and the Earth herself. I call to you – wake up and smell the intense need. Then do something about it with the wealth you’ve been given. For more information on how to join the revolution with the Real Woman Manifesto, click here. Thanks. Let me know your response to this. I always love to hear from you.

* Add 3 teaspoons of fresh carrot juice to 3 egg whites. Whisk together and apply to your face. Let dry for 15 minutes and rinse. Voila! Fresher, healthier, “younger looking” skin. http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/5-look-5-years-younger