Today I visited a dear friend who is in her mid-80s (I'm in my mid-30's) and although the aim of the visit was to relax do some gentle yoga exercises, we couldn't help but mention the war. She told me something which could be considered as very common place and simple.

This friend was born into a Jewish family in Germany. She came to England as a child in the 1930s to flee Hitler's regime. She lived with her mother and siblings in London. Then when she was a young woman the war began and Hitler decided to bomb London. On one night of the Blitz she was living in a house near Baker Street and in the morning the house next door was no longer there. The bombs, the noise, the death and destruction were so close. And yet, despite her mother's pleading to "please come downstairs dear" into the bomb shelter, she refused, "Hitler kicked me out of my country, I will not let him kick me out of my bed!".

She remained defiant and in her own words, "I wasn't going to be intimidated."

My point being, yes we must stand up and act out for our convictions that there are better ways than war to resolve conflicts - but we need not become despondent, aggrieved or afraid - this is what the propaganda from both sides is counting on - a scared public is a gullible pliable public.

Remain defiant and active, but above all remain peaceful within yourself - the world is made up of individuals and if all the individuals are scared or sad or in despair this is the world we have. If we remain positive, determined, happy and peaceful - this is the world we create. Do what you need to do to keep your inner peace - pray, hug, act out, demonstrate, chain yourself to Big Ben - but do it gladly, happily, that you are living your truth and playing your part in your life and in our world.

wishing peace for all,
Emma