Well, it was a bad year for dictators, and that’s a good thing for the rest of us.  Now that there is the possibility, and in fact the dawning or re-birthing of a more democratic existence across the globe, we must remember to do our part to make it so.

No matter what the topic, I always talk about two things in my seminars: how can we expect to have peace on this planet if we don’t have peace in our own lives; and everyone should cook.  Ergo, we must have peace in our kitchens in order to have peace in our lives in order to have peace in the world.

Whether you consider yourself the next Top Chef or think heating up leftovers in the microwave qualifies, my go-to recipe that gourmets and gauche gourmands alike can make is pea soup. Cooking in general, and especially something like soup, is extremely meditative and teaches us that life does not always function like an instant message; this forces you to slow down, be more present, have more patience and then literally enjoy the fruits of your labor.

One ingredient alone won’t cut it, and you can really make the recipe your own.  Each chopped up piece of onion, carrot, celery, garlic,  (ham, kale, turnip, parsnip, sweet potato…whatever else you want to put in there) and of course split peas ultimately blend together in an harmonious way; the whole meal is highly nutritious with many healthy benefits and the subtle combination of these diverse components over time brings out the best in each other.  Yum.

It was once said that the United States is a melting pot, and as a struggling global superpower, if that can truly be realized in its most positive sense, the rest of the world has a pretty good shot as well.  So, as you’re making the soup, perhaps visualize the ingredients as Red States and Blue States, the Rich and the Poor, White, Black, Muslim, Non-Muslim, Gay, Straight, Liberals and Conservatives – and why not throw in the countries of the European Union as well, since they need all the help they can get at the moment…

But if you really are a menace to yourself and others in the galley, you can always take a mental ride on the Peace Train  or imagine yourself a member of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, with 100 artists from more than 30 countries representing over 26 instruments who have come together to create that beautiful universal language known as music.

Still feel like your Jong is kind of Il?  Give me a buzz and I’ll help unite your body, relationships, career and life so that they can be peas in a pod  and you can make your contribution by experiencing a deeper sense of peace in your piece of the pie. 

P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out my posts  Let Love Rule, Changing of the Guard, Conjuction Junction, and Follow the Leader