Harmony Moon Manifesto: We Believe in Love. Always.

My heart is hurting, as I know yours is too, for the unrest we see in the streets, and for the systemic injustices and hatefulness that has led up to this time of civil protest.  Harmony Moon was founded, 24 years ago, on the principles of inclusivity, fair wages, respect for our differences, and speaking up for those who have no voice. We stand against racism, bigotry, discrimination, and social injustice in all its many forms.  Enough is enough.  We must work together to create the kind of world that we want our children to inherit.  

#WeStandForEquality
#WeStandForJustice
#WeStandTogether 

Compassion in Times of Unrest

 

In the most challenging of times, when anger, hatred, even simple mean-spiritedness seem to be all around us, it's important to remember that humanity is kind at heart.  Those who are the angriest, the ones with hatred in thier hearts, the loudest, the meanest, are oftentimes also the most unhappy, the most afraid.   We don't have to agree with their ideology, their rhetoric, their actions and deeds, but we should still try to find compassion in our own hearts - even for the haters.  Choose love.  Always.

50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love

Yes, the hippie in me still believes in peace, love, equality, inclusion, justice, and kindness.  Universal values, to be sure.  And I still believe in the goodness of humankind and the healing power of music.  And friendship and compassion.  And flowers.

This summer marks the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love, when more than 100,000 hippie peaceniks descended on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco.  It was a revolutionary social movement at a time of great unrest in the U.S.

A movement whose impact is still being felt today.  Whose values are as appropriate to solving the great issues troubling the world today as they were back then.

As the late great Jimi Hendrix said, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace."

Yes, I believe in that.

Always. 

We live in tumultuous times.  When fear, anxiety, stress, and uncertainty are on the rise, anger and hate often follow.  And where there is anger and hate, there is also fear and anxiety, creating a vicious circle.  It’s hard to know how to break the cycle.  

But break the cycle we must.  And there is only one place to start – with yourself.  Examine your own beliefs and assumptions, your own behaviors and actions.  Weed out that which is toxic and feed that which springs from love.  Anger, hate, fear, and anxiety are defeated with kindness, common courtesy, and respect for others.  It may seem simplistic but the truth often is.  

Choose LOVE.  

Always.