Spiritual Peacemaker

Fighting Terror with Kindness

I recently discovered Partners in Kindness, an organization who encourages people to perform one random act of kindness each day. I think their message is important and would like to share the following article with you today.

Coping With Tragedy

Fighting Terror with Kindness

by Shmuel Greenbaum

Kindness has been my personal response to terror. My wife, Shoshana, was murdered by a suicide bomber. She was one of over 100 victims that were killed or injured on August 9, 2001 at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem.

Sometimes I wonder whether telling my story can really help others. Since, the way I am coping with tragedy is so different than the norm, would anyone else understand it?

Many of the rabbis that came to visit me told me a story about a carpet. "Sometimes you only see the knots on the back," they said; "Only later do you see the beautiful design on the front." I thanked them for coming and explained that I see the beautiful design now. I see the "big picture."

I have always been interested in the "big picture" – in how to make the world better. Since I was a kid, I always liked to tackle these big problems by assembling a group of experts to solve them. As a teenager I designed a system to tap hydroelectric power from the wastewater of apartment buildings. I contacted a local engineering school and assembled a team of academicians to prepare the plan for the US Department of Energy.

After my wife’s violent murder, I began a project to teach people how to be kinder. The project has just started to take off. At the moment, we have more than 10,000 subscribers on six continents to our "Daily Dose of Kindness" e-mail. Everyone who signs up for this e-mail list is also automatically signed up as an advisor. As I said before, I like having many advisors. Right now, I have over 10,000 "Kindness advisors".

Last week, one of my Kindness advisors sent me an e-mail link to an article in the New York Times about how medical researches have found that acts of kindness stimulate the brain in the same place that physical pleasures do. So now medical researchers have shown that doing kindness causes enjoyment. From this you can see one way that I cope with tragedy – I receive tremendous pleasure by promoting kindness.

My favorite author on kindness is Zelig Pliskin. In his book Kindness, he presents eighty-five techniques to find new opportunities to do kindness by improving yourself and improving the world around you. In one chapter he explains how you can feel the thrill of an international sports victory every day if you visualize 100,000 people applauding for you and cheering you on when you do an act of kindness. Studies have shown that our hormonal system has actual biochemical responses even though the victory is totally a figment of our imagination.

Shortly after my wife’s death, I prayed with great intensity to G-d to help me to make the world better. From the feedback I am getting from my kindness projects, it is clear that my prayers are being answered and that I am helping to make the world a little kinder – one person at a time. This feeling of Divine assistance combined with the biochemical responses to my imagined victory has given me tremendous emotional strength.

Be a "Partner In Kindness."

Visit our websites:

http://www.TraditionOfKindness.org (Jewish)

http://www.PartnersInKindness.org (Non-Sectarian)

Live Well and Dream Huge,

The Spiritual Peacemaker

My Prosperity Journal

The most amazing things have been happening lately! I belong to a networking group called Ryze. Another member, Marilyn Jenett made a post about a friend who had written a book about cancer and I contacted Marilyn to learn more about it. Marilyn then called me and during our conversation, I asked her if she knew any corporations who would be interested in becoming a sponsor for a motorsports team. My husband is involved in motorsports and they are seeking sponsors and Marilyn has great connections. I don't normally get involved in my husband's business, so it was rather strange that I even asked.

It just so happens that Marilyn does know some people. Brad drafted a proposal and sent it to Marilyn. She spoke with her contact and they expressed an interest. Now, this is where things get exciting.

Marilyn is a Prosperity Mentor. She has a program that will launch you up the prosperity path. Marilyn suggested that Brad and I take her course so that we would all be aligned and focused on the same goal. Isn't that a great concept?

We began our lesson this past Sunday, June 13th. On Monday, my friend Linda Miller, posted an offer on Ryze to connect individuals in her network as Prosperity Partners. There is one member that I have wanted to get to know better. She has a very positive attitude and a passion for life. I contacted Linda with my available times, but made no mention of wanting to connect with Donna. However, I did focus on it with great intent. About ten minutes later I received an email from Donna, telling me she was my Prosperity Partner. I couldn't believe it!

Yesterday, Donna and I spoke on the phone. She is an awesome person and come to find out, she also teaches prosperity courses. We have many common interests and will meet once a week to discuss our goals and desires. As partners, we support each other and combine our energies to create great things. Pretty cool, eh?

Within an hour after talking with Donna, she discovered she had an extra $2000 in her bank account. She contacted the bank to check into the matter and discovered that a man had come into the bank and deposited the money in cash. She does not know who he was or why he deposited money into her account. If any new developments occur, I'll give you an update. ;o)

Last night, I went over to visit my mom. On the way home, I was sitting at a stop light and heard "Buy a lottery ticket". I don't normally buy lottery tickets and I was already running late and didn't feel like stopping. I dismissed it as a silly thought.

At the corner where I was stopped, there was a Village Pantry. I almost drove by, but as I got to the entrance, it was if the steering wheel turned into the lot. This store is usually packed with cars and it's one of those places where you just know you're going to have to stand in line for at least 15 minutes. There were no other cars in the lot.

I walked into the store and looked at the lottery tickets and decided to get the ones in slot #13. I bought 2 tickets at $2.00 each.

I scratched them off when I got home and won $20, on ticket #113. I couldn't help but notice the recurring theme of number 13. We started the lesson on the 13th, the ticket was located in #13 slot, and the ticket number was 113. See...

I realize that $20 may not seem like much to some people, but I see this as proof that I am opening to Prosperity. I can't wait to see what happens next! I fully expect that there is much more to come and I'll post all of them here. Come back for updates and when you're ready, join me on a Journey of Prosperity.

Have a Prosperous Day!

The Spiritual Peacemaker

Prosperity Journal

JULY 9th: WOW! I'm not even sure where to begin ;o) I never doubted that Marilyn's lessons would work, I just didn't realize how WELL they would work!

Let's see....

I am putting the finishing touches on a corporate coffee deal with my new Organic Planet business. Their first order is for 100 pounds and they anticipate ordering at least 150 pounds per month.

My brother contacted me for a consulting job and I went there today. It just so happens they have six computers for sale and I asked the owner if he would consider a barter for one of them. He agreed and I walked away with a $1200 computer for 5 hours of work. Not a bad deal, eh?

Afterwards my brother took me out to lunch and paid for it. Double bonus!

I've been offered a position with a non-profit organization that I've been wanting to work for, for a very long time.

And, last but not least, our mortgage company has agreed to a short sale on our house and have decided to work with us, instead of against us.

I'm amazed at how easy this is and am having an absolute blast manifesting. Marilyn's, "Feel Free to Prosper" website is finished and I encourage you to stop by and take a look for yourself. I know her time is VERY limited, so if you're interested in taking her lessons, I highly recommend you get started now.

Stop back for more updates and be sure to let me know if you take Marilyn's lessons. I'd love to hear about your successes!

Live Well and Prosper,
The Spiritual Peacemaker

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JUNE 24th: Last night was our second call with Marilyn, our Prosperity Mentor. I love the sound of that... I have a prosperity mentor :o) Mariyn's site will be up soon and I promise to provide you with the link. This is some mighty powerful stuff, ladies and gents!

I wish I could share more specific information with you, but I have taken a vow of secrecy and I will honor that. However, it is safe for me to say that Marilyn keeps things very simple and that is what has prevented me from accomplishing my goals in the past. I need quick and simple, yet effective.

I haven't received any additional monetary gains, YET, but a lot of good things are happening. For instance, I am now a consultant with Organic Planet Coffee & Teas. This position will allow me to use my fundraising skills to help affiliates and organizations raise funds for their cause through the sale of free trade organic coffee. And let me tell you, this is GREAT coffee. It's roasted the day your order is shipped and the beans are practically still warm when they arrive at your doorstep. If you like chai tea, you've got to try the organic Rooibis Chai Tea -- Delicious!!

Anyway, although this is a volunteer position, it will provide me with many opportunities to generate another stream of income. Not to mention getting a great deal on organic coffee ;o)

I have also connected with another woman who is interested in my still-in-the-design-phase "personality" kits for Cancer Comfort. I plan to launch the line in the fall and had mentioned it to another Ryze member. She would like to promote one of the kits in a Relay for Life event in Oregon.

I think the best part of this journey is that my husband is participating with me. When he leaves for work, I say "Goodbye my prosperous husband" and "have an abundant day" and he'll greet me with "Hello my prosperous wife". It's so fun! Just changing our greetings to one another has made a huge difference in our energy. It's very uplifting.

And one thing I have noticed is that there have been times that I have been very resistant to letting the prosperity in. When I won the $20 in lottery tickets, I felt this inner conflict. It was almost as if one voice was saying "See, it really works", while the other was saying "big deal, it was only $20". I KNOW this stuff works. I KNOW that where you focus your thoughts and what you think about, you will manifest. I just wonder when I'm going to get out of my own way and let the money pour in, instead of trickle in. Something tells me Marilyn is going to help me fix that!

Check back for updates and as always, please feel free to leave your comments or questions.

Many Blessings,

The Spiritual Peacemaker