The Zen Pen Peace Project

Not much to report. I may have rearranged my studio again and probably did but I’ve since lost track lol.

I have started a new dream catcher, listed the latest issue of The Zen Pen and the Harvest Moon flags here MyCherokeeDawn and here too…DawnCollinsArt and worked more on a new mandala too.

Yesterday I began a smaller Zen Pen zine to mail out to the groovy people who have bought my art in the…

— Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein)

I’m Aduba. I’m from the now independent country of South Sudan, which surprisingly not many people know of its whereabouts. Sudan is the biggest country in all of Africa with the most beautifully, dark-skinned people you will ever see. I love my culture but because of the war, I lived in Egypt from infancy until I was 8-years-old. It may sound pretty amazing to have lived in Egypt but it really wasn’t (other than being able to growing up speaking Arabic). My mum had to take care of my younger brother and me on her own and at times leave me to take care of him at the innocent age of 5. I guess you could say I learned to be responsible from an early age. My dad was in and out of our lives so I never got to know him very well, so that makes my mum a single mum and an extraordinary one too.

I’m completing an honours degree researching lung cancer at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre which is something I would never have guessed I’d be doing. I also work in hospitality part time which can be the best job in the world at times because I work for different events and concerts but yet again, I never know who or what to expect. A drunken customer may occasionally knock everything off my counter and hit me with them in the process (but I’m not complaining).

I like kids. OK that’s an understatement: I absolutely adore children with all my heart. It’s this form of fuel that helps ignite the passion I have for becoming a Paediatrician. I want to go back to my people in Sudan and help the orphaned and dispersed children in families who weren’t as fortunate as my family and I. Coming to Australia as immigrants was probably the best decision my mum ever made. I’ve learned and experienced so much including different cultures, a love for the piano, basketball, languages and the endless doorways that education can open for absolutely anyone who is willing to learn.

I don’t look up to anyone other than Jesus. People tend to have this habit of disappointing me to be honest. “...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith.” - Hebrews 12:2. I believe that we shouldn’t limit our abilities by trying to be like someone else. As you can already tell, I have faith that Jesus is the epitome of a role model.   I think everyone has their own definition of what equality is but I think equality is simply treating others the way you would want to be treated. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. Consequently, because not everyone is capable of treating others as themselves, world peace has been difficult to achieve.

Hi, my name is Miina Maria Hurskainen and this is my story. I come from a small town in Finland called Pieksämäki. It is located in central Finland and is surrounded by beautiful lakes and forests.

I’m currently into the final semester of my Master’s degree in Accounting, with just the thesis work left to complete my studies. I also work as a Credit Controller, in the Accounts department for a Finnish Construction Corporation.

I enjoy going on random walks and getting lost, to explore my surroundings without directions or a map. It’s an experience that reminds me of how beautiful and exciting the world is; and how everything around you makes your life, what it is; and how important these small things are. Right now my biggest goals are career based. I want to work in functions related to strategic management and achieve some notable milestones in my career. I know it’s a cliché but my mum is my source of inspiration. She grew up in simple life conditions with bare minimum, but always chased her dreams. Her desire has been to help people in her life and in her work and that is something I would love to be able to carry on in my life. One of my favourite memories was when I was young. I was sitting in the car with my parents and my sister, travelling to Lapland. Suddenly I said “It’s so nice that we are all together, this is what family is all about”. I understood how important family is to me and how valuable spending time together with them is. This is a phrase we still repeat when we are all together. World peace is something that we should all aim for. We should be able to lead a peaceful life and have the same possibilities and basic rights as everyone else. We should all learn to respect one other. I know that we can’t really change how some people behave and we shouldn’t try to, but if we all change ourselves, be mindful about our own actions and follow our hearts, we can achieve a much better world. A world where people would look around them and see the beauty of love, humanity, serenity, friendship and peace.

You may have moments in your life that may bring you down. But never give up. They are only meant to test your strength and help uplift and bring out the best in you; a sign of your own inner-strength. You are stronger than you believe and you should always remember that.