by johnnoltner
It continues to amaze me how a small gesture can change someone’s day, or their life. We’ve all had it happen to us. We all have the power to offer it to others. A Peace of My Mind visited Tennessee Tech and asked, “When has someone reached out to lift you up?”
Categories: Blog • Tags: care, caring, encouragement, friendship, kindness, love, service, support
by johnnoltner
Yesterday was a driving day. From Parkersburg, West Virginia to Richmond, Virginia to pack up an exhibit at University of Richmond. We stopped at a rest area just across the border into Virginia and I looked at the map. “We’ll go right past Charlottesville,” I said. “We should stop and see if we can find the place.” It was just about dusk when we rolled in. 60 degrees and clear skies, which feels pretty good to a Minnesotan in November. […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: Confederate, counter protest, heyer, kind, Life, love, memorial, noh8, peace, protest, robert e lee, together
by johnnoltner
Brandon Sheehan was born near Venice Beach, California. He says he grew up with sandy toes and salty lips. He studied fire ecology in college and worked for the forest service fighting wildfires. Brandon grew up Jewish, but eventually studied Tibetan Buddhism and was a resident at the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee, Montana where he cast statues of the Buddha and helped create a shrine at the base of the Mission Mountains that is visited by people of many […]
Categories: Podcast • Tags: arlee, compassion, grace, happiness, kindness, love, meditation, montana, nature
by johnnoltner
Carl Kenney is a minister, author, advocate, teacher, and in his own words, a “prophet of the people.” He believes that we spend too much time and energy fighting one another because of our differences—with devastating and wide-reaching results. “I don’t have to tear you down for the sake of making me better.” My theology is rooted in the compassion of Christ. I’m a person who has experienced the love of God after having made my share of mistakes. I’ve […]
Categories: Podcast • Tags: advocate, compassion, durham, faith, love, minister, North Carolina, religion
by johnnoltner
Yanina Calderone was born in Guatemala City. Raised by her mother and two grandmothers, she moved to New York City at age 14 to live with her father. Yanina was raped at age 15 and became pregnant. She decided to keep her “little froggy,” the son that jumped in her stomach. Rather than let a violent act ruin her life, she decided to funnel all of her love toward her child. “I let go all of the hurt that I […]
Categories: Podcast • Tags: abuse, gang, Guatemala, Harlem, love, New York, peace, rape, revenge, violence
by johnnoltner
Hashim Garrett grew up in Brooklyn, New York. As a young boy, he changed schools and was picked on and bullied. He realized that he could avoid the torment if he befriended his tormentors, and he eventually joined a gang. There was something powerful about having others fear him for a change. He said that when he was good, nobody noticed him, but when he was bad, everybody knew his name. At 15, Hashim was shot and paralyzed from the […]
Categories: Podcast • Tags: Brooklyn, forgiveness, gang, love, New Jersey, paralyzed, peace, reconciliation, stories, values
by johnnoltner
Tuesday night was a great celebration of a long effort to produce our new book, A Peace of My Mind: American Stories. Thanks to everyone who came out to Squirrel Haus Arts for the release party. There were people who’ve been in my books, people who helped support and fund the books, friends, family, and more. If I could judge it right from up front, there were smiles, tears, nods of understanding. Neal Hagberg provided great music to balance and […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: book, books, community, justice, love, peace, photography, relationship, social justice, spiritual, stories, story, travel
by johnnoltner
Those of you who know me recognize that A Peace of My Mind has become a labor of love. It is my response to a world that chooses division over unity and anger over compassion. A Peace of My Mind’s strength lies in its ability to amplify the voices of those who are working for positive change and encouraging others to do the same. It offers a message of hope and encouragement at a time when it is desperately needed. […]
Categories: Blog, Video • Tags: a peace of my mind, American Stories, APoMM, art, art for change, change, compassion, crowdfund, dialog, diversity, exhibits, healing, hope, listening, love, mypeace, peace, photography, social justice, stories, travel
by johnnoltner
Words escape me. Many years ago, a man said this to me: “Don’t work against what you hate, work for what you love.” There’s a world of difference between the two. As the chaos of our world swirls around us, and some preach hate while others spew anger, I return to the only thing that makes sense to me. A Peace of My Mind will seek out what is good and raise it up as a model of what is possible. […]
Categories: Blog • Tags: APoMM, GLBT, love, Muslim, mypeace, Orlando, peace, scapegoat
by johnnoltner
Scene 1: Years ago I interviewed a man named Rahelio in Sedona, Arizona. We climbed the red rocks to overlook a valley for sunset. He played flute. I took pictures, and we talked a little bit about the work he did as a spiritual guide. He said, “Don’t work against what you hate. Work for what you love.” Scene 2: Marcus Buckingham’s book, Now, Discover Your Strengths points out that often we spend time trying to correct our weaknesses rather […]
Categories: Blog, Life • Tags: APoMM, bully, Flora Tsukayama, love, peace, Sedona, stories, viral, volunteer
