Susan Johnson is a retired teacher, former president of Congregation Kneseth Israel where she currently serves as Sisterhood treasurer and VP of Education. Retirement means that she has more time to devote to her volunteer activities which are copious. She has five grandchildren and enjoys attending all sorts of events with them and providing one-on-one  bubbe time!

Why can’t I describe peace? As I think about history, before and during my lifetime, I don’t think it has ever existed in a political sense. Sadly, there is always fighting somewhere in the world. Mankind only seems to know a “cease fire” until the next battle.

So perhaps, there is another way to look at peace. I have often heard someone say upon the death of a loved one, “They are at peace.” How sad that a person has to wait until his death to be at peace.

But wait, a person doesn’t have to wait until his final moment. If I like who I am, if I treat life with optimism, humor, and honor, then my life is peaceful. I believe that each person can choose to be happy. If I am happy with myself, I can treat others with respect. Life is full of challenges but they can be met with optimism and joy. Have I always had this philosophy? No, it comes with maturity. As adults, our responsibility is to provide our children the security to acquire this feeling. Our job as a community is to provide others around us the same self-assurance.

For me, peace is an inner feeling. My wish for the world is that others can gain that feeling so someday we can live in a world of peace.