Who Remembers The Powerline "A Kinder, Gentler Nation"

Long before George Bush began talking about a kinder, gentler nation, my personal stationery carried the reflection, "Live gently with yourself and others. People regularly respond to that thought by saying something like, "I wish I could live more gently!"

When George (H.W.) Bush ran for president he said he wanted "a kinder, gentler" nation. He said he would be the "education president" and the "environmental president." But, with respect to Iran, North Korea, and the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Bush administration foreign policy is in something of a shambles.

One way for us to learn the art of gentleness is to keep the word gentle or gently in our awareness. Gentle, along with its synonyms kind, considerate, patient, and tender, is easily lost in the hubpages of our demanding days. In the course of our normal schedules, the concept of gentleness rarely occurs to us.

As I was retraining myself to live gently, I put a business card size reading "gently" in my wallet, on the fridge, on my desk , in my journal and anywhere for as long as it is my space. Thus, each time I saw the word, I was reminded that there was a different, a supportive and comforting way for me to treat myself and others. Now, when I tune into negative self-talk or judgemental feelings toward myself or someone else, I eventually remember to ask, "Is this gentle?" Often, just that little nudge helps me move from a prickly to a soft place within myself.

Choose an evening when you can have some meditative time for yourself and allow your mind to roam back over the day or week. Were there times when you would like to have acted more gently on your keywords or adopted a more gentle attitude? If so, replay those scenes as though you were already in the habit of walking gently in your world. Soak in the feelings you receive from making that change in your actions, communication, and responses.

Right now, we can make the commitment to being more gentle in lifestyle and content. Living gently creates an aura of peace in or lives-a down comforter of support for ourselves and those with whom we are in relationships.