Peas, Peas, Peas on Earth

Got Peace? Got Fun? 

‘Tis the season to wish for peace on earth. Or “peas” on Earth. I was reminded of the Peas / Peace thing recently while singing an a cappella song with a circle of friends. One  chorus repeated the word “peace” several times in a row and, inevitably, it began to sound like “peas” of the garden variety. 

The sad reality is that thinking, singing, writing or talking about peace are about as likely to manifest world peace as singing about peas is likely to conjure something to go with your meatloaf and mashed potatoes. And yet it’s something to strive for.

Meanwhile, good-habit guru James Clear suggests these ways to enjoy an instantly peaceful moment, and I recommend them for this holiday season. They’re (more or less) free and (mostly) readily available:
•    Close your eyes and just breathe for two minutes.
•    Leave your phone in another room for an hour.
•    Watch a cloud form and then dissolve.
•    Stand in the sunshine and notice how it warms your skin.
•    Light a candle and watch the flame dance.

Of course, peace never lasts for long. As novelist Chuck Palahniuk wrote, “It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace."

If the lessons of peace are hard to remember, why not try a little fun instead?

Here are my suggestions for some unusual, “clean” and free-ish fun:
•    Play Fictionary or Telephone with friends and family.
•    Again, with friends or family, read some limericks out loud, then write a few yourselves. (You can find plenty online with just a tiny bit of effort, and they run from nice to naughty.)
•    Watch any of the dozens of comedies on Kanopy (free streaming through your library).
•    Stroll through the Presidio cemetery at dusk; enjoy a view of San Francisco bay and remember how lucky you are to be alive.
•    Listen to this eclectic “joy” playlist curated by Cynthia Cummins on Spotify.

Whatever you do, we wish you and yours a peaceful (and peas-full) holiday season.