Janis Kelly's Blog (60)

Day 19 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Acceptance"

Greetings, family!

Today is Tuesday, February 17th, and the word for today is, "Acceptance."

"Resentment, feat, criticism and guilt cause more problems than anything else," says author Author Louise Hay. By choosing not to judge myself and instead see myself as unique, capable, loving and bright, and by accepting myself just as I am, I will be modeling nonviolence. Any time I take down the walls of defense, I open myself to a nonviolent way of living.

"Life has… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 17, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Day 18 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Freedom"

Greetings, family!

Today is Monday, February 16 and our word for today is "Freedom."

Civil Rights activist Diane Nash said, "Freedom, by definition, is people realizing that they are their own leaders." Take a leadership role today in your own life. Find a way where you can express who you truly are.

"When people decide they want to be free, there is nothing that can stop them."--Bishop Desmond Tutu

"To be free is to live in a way that respects and… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 16, 2009 at 8:38pm — No Comments

DAY 17 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Integrity"

Greetings, family!

Today is Sunday, February 15 and our word for today is, "Integrity."

"Do The Right Thing!" Spike Lee used these words as a title for one of his movies. When faced with a choice, listen to your conscience, and be willing to act accordingly, no matter what others may say. You KNOW what is right to do; you can choose to do it.

Integrity asks for firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values and denies any form of corruption.… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 15, 2009 at 9:18pm — No Comments

Day 16 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Gratitude"

Greetings, family!

Today is Saturday, February 14 (Happy V-day everybody!!), and our word for the day is, "Gratittude."

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."--Melody… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 15, 2009 at 2:00am — No Comments

Day 15 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Reverence"

Greetings, family!

Today is Friday, February 13 and we are starting week 3 of the Season For Nonviolence! Today's word is, "Reverence." Reverence for all life is fundamental to Ahimsa; it is the ultimate rationale for nonviolence--for how can one willingly do harm to that for which one has reverence--and towards which one has the ove that reverence engenders?

"In the main, reverence for life dictates the same sort of behavior as the ethical principle of love. But reverence… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 13, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Day 14 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Humility"

Greetings, family!

Today is Thursday, February 12, and our word for the day is "Humility." Making mistakes is a part of learning and growing, simply an error in approach. Paradoxically, the only way we can begin to escape from the consequences of our actions is to stop running from them and to face them with fortitude and humility. In this sense, every difficult situation is a precious opportunity for learning.

When we humbly acknowledge our mistakes and reflect on what we… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 12, 2009 at 6:32pm — No Comments

Day 13 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Creativity"

Greetings, family!

Today is Wednesday, February 11, and the word for today is "Creativity." The human soul's natural desire is to create. The best thing you can do to a human sould is to express the natural desire to create. Your life is your creative expression. Creativity allows something unpredictable and joyous to express through you.

"Why should we use all our creative power?...Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 11, 2009 at 7:45pm — No Comments

Day 12 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Groundedness"

Greetings, family!

Today is Tuesday, February 11, and the word for today is "Groundedness." Gandhi said, "To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves." Bleack Elk reminds us, "Some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds."

This is how we are going to feel grounded, like a tree planted in the earth: Stand up straight and close your eyes. Imagine your body is a tree. Send down… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 10, 2009 at 10:38pm — No Comments

Day 11 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Contemplation"

Greetings, family!

Today is February 9, and our word for today is, "Contemplation." For at least three inutes, relax, breathe, and let your mind be fed by whatsoever is good and beautiful. Many sacred texts tell us some variation of 'your thoughts shape your reality.'"

"The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival."--Aristotle

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is."--Bible

Today's… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 9, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Day 10 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Faith"

Greetings, family!

Today is Sunday, February 8, and the word for today is "Faith." When Cesar Chavez was organizing farm workers in California, he challenged them to say, "Si, se puede"--yes, it is possible--when they didn't know how they would overcome obstacles. Today, say "Yes, it is possible," even if you don't know how your goal will be realized. Have faith--you will find a way.

Today's exercise: I will say, "Yes, it is possible." in every obstacle I meet. I will… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 8, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Day 9 of the 12th annual Season For Nonviolence: "Dreaming"

Today is Saturday, February 7 (my daughter's 24th birthday, BTW--happy birthday, Sasha!!!!!!), and the word for today is "Dreaming."

Martin Luther King, Jr. had a great dream. Follow your dream; follow your heart; follow your inner light.

"We need men (and women) who can dream of things that never were, and ask why not."-George Bernard Shaw

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask, 'Why?' I dream of things that never were, and ask, 'Why… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 7, 2009 at 8:41pm — No Comments

Day 8 of the 12th annual Season For Nonviolence: "Healing"

Greetings, family!

Today is Friday, February 6 and we are starting our second full week of the Season For Nonviolence! If you are "playing along" at home, I would love to hear about your experiences thus far; as for myself, my "season" started out with a bang and has veered wildly off course during my first week! Ironically enough (actually, it's probably perfect), the first 10 days of the season are focused on nonviolence toward the self, and this is where I seem to be having the… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 6, 2009 at 9:04pm — No Comments

Day 7 of the Season For Nonviolence: "Education"

Greetings, family!

Today is Thursday, February 5, and our word for today is "Education."

Knowledge strengthens your conviction and deepens your understanding and acceptance. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--this is the goal of true education." The complete education teaches how to live by the principles which benefit us and the people around us.

Learn about the power of nonviolence by… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 5, 2009 at 8:48pm — No Comments

Day 6 of the Season For Nonviolence: Simplicity

Greetings, family!

Today is Wednesday, February 4, and the word for the day is "Simplicity."

"Live simply, so others can simply live," say the Quakers. To simplify is to invite peacefulness into our lives. When we have lots of "stuff" in our lives, it is hard to be peaceful. Close your eyes and ask, "How can I simplify my life; what can I let go of?"

If we dare let go of our possessions and the will to control and dominate, we will cultivate a deeper spirit of… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 4, 2009 at 7:23pm — No Comments

Day 5 of the Season For Nonviolence: Believing

Greetings, family!

Today is Tuesday, February 3, and our word for the day is "Believing."

Author Wayne Dyer writes about the impact that our beliefs have on our daily lives. Believe that you have all the resources you need to move your life in the direction of peace, happiness and nonviolence. Believe that you can be peaceful all day. Say to yourself, "I am peaceful, I practice nonviolence."

Today's affirmation: "Today, I strive to learn from my mistakes without… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 3, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

Day 4 of the Season For Nonviolence: Caring

Greetings, family, and happy Groundhog's Day!

Neile Donald Walsch's message for today says this: "On this day of your life, dear friend, I believe God wants you to know.......that you should hope to see your shadow today. It

might be the best thing that ever happened to you."

But I digress, as the real point of this blog entry is to share about Day 4 of the Season For Nonviolence. Today's word is "Caring," and the affirmation that accompanies it is, "Today, I affirm… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on February 2, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Day 2 of the Season For Nonviolence: Smiling

Greetings, family!

Today is Saturday, January 31, and the word for the day is: "Smiling." I have much to smile about today, as I am preparing to conduct a choral workshop entitled, "Be The Sound Of Peace," as well as a culminating concert event up in Auburn, CA at the Foothill Center for Spiritual Living! I feel so very honored to have been asked to participate in this exciting project, a "kick-off" for the 12th annual Season For Nonviolence and a fundraiser for Peace For… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on January 31, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

The 12th-Annual Season For Nonviolence is upon us!

Happy Season for Nonviolence, family! In my effort to help "be the change," I am committing to keeping a daily blog on iPeace as well as my own website, www.janis-kelly.com during this powerful 9-week period. I will also be posting music, videos and lyrics to my original music as well as some of my favorites from within the peace movement (thank you, John Lennon, for showing me how to be a voice for peace...) and I hope you will find great value in them. Here, then, is my first entry, drawn… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on January 30, 2009 at 6:30pm — 2 Comments

"Be The Voice Of Peace" with me!

"May I use words of love and light and healing;

May they reflect the oneness of all life;

May they express the joy and wonder of my heart's own path;

And may they build a bridge of peace—that reaches 'round the world." -Janis Kelly

Dear Friends,

I am thrilled to invite each one of you to "lift your voice" with me as we kick off the 12th annual Season For Nonviolence (www.agnt.org). Hosted by the Foothill Center for Spiritual Living in… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on January 13, 2009 at 9:51pm — No Comments

Chanting for World Peace...

This morning I finally "put my money where my mouth is," by rising at 4 a.m. PST and praying for world peace with millions of my fellow brothers and sisters around the planet. Although I felt initially resistant to getting up so early, I realized that I cannot purport to be a "peacenick," and then sleep through the revolution! At a result, my husband, my roommate and I spend a lovely hour together praying, meditating and chanting together and I would like to share the lyrics to some of my… Continue

Added by Janis Kelly on December 31, 2008 at 4:14pm — No Comments