“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.” — Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama (1950-present)

“Let us ever remember that our interest is in concord, not in conflict; and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of war." — William McKinley (1843-1901)

I came home one day to find a stranger putting up a yard sale sign on my front lawn. At first, I was fairly annoyed. What right did this guy have putting a sign on my lawn? I got out of my car and approached him, at which point he bristled, and I sensed a defiant attitude. I felt my limbic response kicking in, but then consciously shifted to my PFC, my pre-frontal cortex, the rational part of my brain able to assess a situation, execute a plan, and anticipate what would happen next if I did this now.

So, instead of being limbic, I kept it frontal.

In a calm and gentle tone, I asked what he was doing.

His response was defensive; he was putting his sign next to the fire hydrant by the front lawn, and since it was public property,........

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