I’m in the harried middle of a regular Monday, trying to get a million things done while my son is (mercifully) napping. It seems the domestic grind of laundry, dishes, and cleaning is never-ending. I just sat down to do some work for Women for Peace and was feeling rather guilty about having not accomplished some of the tasks I’d set out to do before the next Education and Action meeting (tomorrow!). The truth is that my life is just about as packed as it can get. I’m working full-time on the weekends, writing a dissertation, and raising a toddler son. And my husband is in law school, so most of the domestic work falls to me as he’s practicing writing briefs and working through his casebooks. Why on earth did I volunteer for yet another commitment?
I believe in Women for Peace Iowa because I believe in the possibility for a peaceful and just world. But how can I translate that intention into action with such limited resources?
First, I choose to remind myself of the privileges I enjoy on a daily basis that allow me to be involved with Women for Peace. I have an income that allows me to hold only one job; I have a car to transport me to meetings and events; a partner to care for my child on Tuesday nights; and a computer and internet connection to do WFPI work in the comfort of my own home and on my own time. I can choose to honor my unearned privilege by using it to create a better world. Sometimes that will mean letting the dust bunnies pile up or giving up TV for the night.
But sometimes all that will just doesn’t get me the time I want for advocating peace. I was thinking as I folded laundry this afternoon that the magazines are full of advice for balancing work, family, and health. One of the things I see over and over is the ten-minute rule: you can find ten minutes in your life for just about anything you need to do. I’ve seen this rule applied to housework, exercise, prayer, and even cooking. It also reminded me of the concept of tithing that those of us from Christian backgrounds are familiar with, wherein you give ten percent of your income to your church or charities. So what, I thought, if we applied these concepts to working for peace? What if we were to think of peace-making as a daily activity that we work in right in there with laundry and the treadmill?
Here’s the challenge: For the month of March, commit to TEN MINUTES FOR PEACE for five out of seven days. In that ten minutes do whatever you feel would best promote peace in our community and world. For me it might be drafting a press release for a WFPI event. For you it might be taking out a pad and pen and brainstorming about a specific conflict in your life that needs to be resolved peacefully. Or filling out and mailing a “You are Not Alone” card for Amnesty International. Or writing a check to the women’s shelter. Or having a cup of tea and recommitting yourself to a peaceful mindset.
Then come back here and tell us what you’ve been doing. We’re all busy, but we all have ten minutes for peace. I think we’re going to surprise ourselves with just how much we can get done.
