Visions of Peace: Staying Grounded in a Chaotic World

By many external measures, I’m living what’s often called the “American Dream.”

And you might be too.

I live in New York City. I’m married. I have a dog. I can pay my bills, enjoy myself, and access comforts that many people don’t have. There was a time in my life when none of this was guaranteed.

I’m a two-time immigrant. I was born in the former USSR, moved to Israel as a baby, and came to the United States when I was ten years old.

Most days, I don’t consciously feel like an immigrant. I’m white. I speak English fluently. I had access to education and opportunity. But every so often, I’m reminded that my story, my nervous system, and my sense of safety were shaped by uncertainty and adaptation.

That perspective deeply influences how I show up in the world.

Choosing Values Over Certainty

I don’t understand blind hatred.
I don’t understand violence.
I strive toward peace and kindness.

I’m someone who believes we can cultivate peace in the world.

When I was younger, I worried that naming these things would make me seem naïve, uninformed, or unrealistic.
At times, I was uninformed. We all are, at different points in our lives and different topics. But over time, I learned something important:

There is no single “Truth” with a capital T that applies cleanly to everyone. And we also get to grow, evolve, and change our beliefs based on new information.

We all see the world through our own experiences. Difference is inevitable. What we do with that difference is the choice.

Over time, I find myself most drawn to people who ask questions instead of assuming they already know something or everything. People who stay curious. People who act from love rather than fear.

I don’t presume to fully understand why others do the things they do. I can imagine that trauma, invalidation, or even humiliation often play a role. But ultimately, I don’t need to fully understand someone’s internal world to choose how I show up in mine.

Mindfulness as an Anchor, Not an Answer

When the world feels chaotic or overwhelming, mindfulness doesn’t ask us to have answers.

It helps us come back into our bodies and the present moment, where we can remember who we are and what we value. And from that place, it becomes much easier to act with kindness, respect, and intention.

This is the role mindfulness plays in my own life.

Not as a way to bypass reality.
Not as a way to disengage.
But as a way to stay anchored.

When I’m grounded in my body and the present moment, I have more clarity around what’s most important to me.
I sense when I’m moving from fear vs. love. I notice when reactivity is pulling me away from the kind of person I want to be.

That doesn’t mean I always get it right. It means I have a place to come back to.

A Simple Practice to Come Back to Yourself

One of the most accessible ways to do this is through mindfulness of the senses.

When the mind feels flooded by news, opinions, or fear-based narratives, the senses gently bring us back to what’s actually happening right now. The feeling of your feet on the ground. The gentle hum of the refrigerator. The smell of rain, cookies, or fresh cut grass. The warmth of the sun on your face.

These small moments aren’t insignificant. They’re how we regulate, reorient, and remember ourselves. They have the capacity to fill us with gratitude, joy, and a deep sense of inner calm.

This is a short video on this exact practice and how mindfulness can be woven into everyday moments, not just formal meditation.

Living With Intention, Even in Uncertain Times

I don’t believe mindfulness makes life easy.

I believe it makes life intentional.

It helps us slow down just enough to notice what’s driving us. It creates space between what’s happening in the world and how we choose to respond to it. And in that space, we get to decide how we live, how we treat others, and how we care for ourselves.

My hope is that by practicing mindfulness at an individual level, we create ripple effects that extend far beyond us. Not through force or persuasion, but through presence. Through kindness. Through grounded, values-based action.

That’s the work I’m committed to. Mindfulness, as a way to stay connected to our humanity, especially when the world pulls us toward separation.