“Love is like war — easy to begin but very hard to stop.”
This quote from Henry Louis “H. L.” Mencken, the “Sage of Baltimore” (1880 – 1956) is one of my lifelong favorites. Mencken was an American journalist, essayist, and is considered to be one of the most influential writers of the first half of the 20th Century.
Mencken was also a renowned critic of American culture. He used his gift for words to hold a mirror up, to reflect what he saw as real disconnects manifesting in the U.S. One of those disconnects is how we talk about (and carry out) war.
Here in the U.S., we’ve used ”war” rhetorically for over a century. So far in my lifetime we’ve had the War on Poverty, War on Drugs. War on Cancer, and War on AIDS.
During the 2012 U.S. election season, “war” became the watchword to label anyone simply sharing her point of view: War on Coal, War on Creationism, War on the Environment, War on the Unborn, the War on Women and a seemingly endless stream of other war cries designed to shock and awe us into paying attention.
Also in my lifetime we’ve waged several real wars. The shooting and bombing and drone-attacking and killing kind of wars.
So here’s the challenge. If Mencken was right and love is like war, easy to begin and hard to stop, how can we start spreading love?
Love Fest 2013
My friend, Dr. Maria Church, possesses pure passion for love and leadership. Together, we share a mission to spread more meaningful love in the world.
A love-leaping, love-spreading approach: Love Fest 2013 . This FREE virtual event is being held on September 16 – 19. If you’re intrigued by the thought of spreading love in a way that is unstoppable — in your community, at your workplace, in your home and in all aspects of life — join us via https://da137.infusionsoft.com/go/LF2013/JoneBosworth2013/ .
Thrilled to be asked to share my thoughts on love and democracy for Love Fest 2013, I had the joy-filled experience of talking with Maria. The focus of our conversation: Unchain the Heart of Democracy . Know that you are welcome, whole-heartedly invited, to listen in!
To me, democracy is much more than one person/one vote. It is more than politics and campaigns, money and competition, winners and losers. It is infinitely more than the pursuit of happiness.
Democracy is a system of governance, yes, but it is also defined as community (seriously, you can look it up). Democracy is our community of common people who are charged with driving decisions, policies and governmental actions for the good of us all.
Democracy is “WE.”
Love Letter to You
A little “love letter” from me http://www.incourageleading.com/dl/LOVEletter.pdf ; my way of spreading love beyond the 12 amazing heart-based speakers (and me!) you’ll hear during Love Fest 2013 . Love and sports, love and relationships, love and leadership, love and sales, love and networking — love and democracy as community – and much more!
Feeling like war comes easier than love so why bother learning heart-based approaches? Remember what our inspiring love-leader Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”
Hold onto that truth — join us at https://da137.infusionsoft.com/go/LF2013/JoneBosworth2013/ .
To spreading love,
Jone
P.S. Don’t worry if you can’t make all thirteen LoveFest 2013 interviews; you can easily purchase your VIP Pass of all of our incredibly heart-centered leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs’ interviews to listen to any time you desire! Click here for details.
P.S.P.S. #LoveFest_2013 twitter chat today, Wednesday 9/11 5pm PDT. Love for you to jump in to the conversation!
