Peace. What a lovely concept. What an elusive dream. The idea of peace seems so unrealistic, so out of our reach, especially when we think about it in world-wide dimensions.

What if peace could be attainable, right here, right now, in real and tangible ways? What if small, individual contributions could make a significant difference in the world?

These are the kinds of questions running through the minds of the people who initiated International Peace Day, which is celebrated on September 21st.

Most of my readers are not aware that the creation of http://www.blended-families.com and the StepHeroesTM newsletter came out of heartfelt prayer about what I could personally do to encourage peace on the planet after the atrocities of September 11, 2001.

As one person, I did not at first believe that there was much, if anything, that I could do to make a difference in the world. As I continued to meditate on this question, I began to notice the peaceful interactions in my family, and remembered that this was not always so. I also noticed how when conflicts did arise, as they so often do in blended families, that we seemed to effortlessly move through the anger and get to the heart of the matter