Your Unifier Allies

Where I grew up, tragedy and violence were all that we knew. Generations of my people had been traumatized and scarred, and conflict was everywhere—between West and East, modern and ancient, wealthy and poor, men and women.

As a young girl, I had little power. I could neither speak out against the injustices I witnessed in the world nor the abuses that happened at home. Always afraid of attack, my body was on a constant state of alert. On the outside, I was over-attentive. The peacemaker. At any sign of conflict, I’d smooth out the waters. But on the inside, I was nervous and insecure. I feared all men, and people that were different from my own. I put up walls around my heart.

Once, I lost control and lashed out, blaming my father for being a bully, and my mother for being a victim, blaming entire nations for harming my people, and my people for letting them. My tactless words cut like knives. Overcome with guilt and fear, I begged for forgiveness, spending the next weeks punishing myself, and pleasing everyone around me. But the incessant pleasing—like the ruthless blaming—only made things worse.

It wasn’t until I was invited to visit a local Peace group by my Great Aunt that everything changed. I’d never seen men and women sitting together, listening, supporting and inspiring each other with such open hearts, honesty and respect. They were neither guarded nor reactive. And for the first time, I experienced the kind of peace and love I’d been longing for my whole life. In the safety of my aunt’s embrace, my defenses dropped. I finally faced the pain, powerlessness and loneliness I’d been hiding from myself and everyone else. I became the leader of this organization for many years. But now I find that Peace simply happens wherever I go.