You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I admit that my primary motive in attending the Hay House, I Can Do It! conference in New York last month was to see and perhaps meet the late Wayne Dyer. While initially disappointed at having missed the opportunity to hear him speak in person, the weekend turned out to be one of the most interesting and engaging 48 hours of my life. Here are just a few of the nuggets of wisdom that caught my attention, courtesy of the onsite roster of contemporaries whose messages captivated the audience.

Our present moment choice is the crystal ball to our future. Every choice serves or sabotages the desired outcome. ~ Nancy Levin, author, Jump… And Your Life Will Appear

 Look at your life right now… that tells you the level at which your subconscious is vibrating. ~ Bruce Lipton, author, The Biology of Belief

Your life is your spiritual practice. ~ Kris Carr, author, Crazy Sexy Juice

In light of the recent tragedies occurring throughout our world, I’d like to share the following contribution from Alison Chabonais, Natural Awakenings’ national content editor, in the hope we will all practice increasing kindness, patience and peace. Whether to friends, relatives, random strangers or even ourselves when we find ourselves reacting to someone in a negative way, may we pause first for a moment to deeply consider our oneness. That can be all it takes to turn a situation around, individually and collectively. Her research turned this up:

Muslims, Jews and Christians all turn to one God, one lawmaker for help in all avenues of life. Christians, who share the affirming Lord’s Prayer, generally frame the Golden Rule as, “Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you.” Islam admonishes, “Seek for mankind that of which you are desirous for yourself.” Sanskrit Tradition posits, “… treat others as you treat yourself.” Buddhists advise, “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” Hinduism says, “One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self.”

Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, cultural backgrounds or perceived differences, practicing such good-spirited teachings contributes to and supports our own wellness and helps us help others.

With hope-filled wishes for a peaceful holiday season,

Maisie Raftery, Publisher