Peace is a deeply emotional word, and I’m often asked what I personally mean by Peace Concerts. My non-political definition is that peace begins with you and me. I believe that every word, thought, action and feeling creates a vibrational effect on our entire planet. I had this awareness even as a little girl. I marveled at how similar people were, and I wondered how humanity could become more curious, respectful and filled with listening hearts about each other’s differences. This longing for unity, harmony and spacious tolerance has led to the many dimensions of my life’s work. As an intergenerational “Peace through Music” performing artist, the creative arts can teach compassionate dialogue and understanding, forgiveness, inclusion, respect, manners, caring and love. Each of us is faced with moment to moment choices, and I believe in the essence of Chief Seattle’s poem: …”whatever we do, say, think and feel affects all living things.” Peace is about living our lives with our highest vision and version of ourselves, and being conscious of how our reactions, thoughts and words contain a power that will positively resonate throughout our planet. We may or may not be able to visually see the rippling planetary effects of our personal choices, but if we listen with our intuitive sensing and knowing, we will quietly and confidently continue to walk the “peace begins with me” path, realizing on a deep level that the cliché is true…”each of us does make a difference” and “peace begins with you and me.”
