At eight years old, my first encounter with racial and cultural discrimination inspired me to question my identity. Japan and Korea share a brutal history of conflict since Japan’s 1910 annexation of the Korean peninsula. The story of Japan’s colonial dominion of Korea is embedded with emotional scars, physical wounds and enmity. However, in my eyes, Korea and Japan are not enemy nations; they are the nations where my precious father and mother were raised and where my roots lie. As an American, Korean, Japanese and global citizen, my understanding of peace is resolving cultural clashes through understanding, forgiveness and true love. I will give meaning to the life I’ll lead, because growing up amidst cultural differences and challenges has shaped my perspective on life.

Some of our world’s greatest leaders were those who used peace to cause societal transformation. Martin Luther King Jr. attacked racial segregation through his powerful sermons. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, he said, “Nonviolence … is a weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.” He shows that peace acts not only as an ethical ideal, but as a catalyst, a means to channel change and new ideas without the devastation caused by violence, empowering the person who uses it.

To me, peace is not a final end product to a conflict; it is an influential tool that can provoke change, while still abiding by one’s moral and ethical standards. When used as a means to resolve conflict, peace allows us to focus on what unites us even when our fellow man is seemingly irrational or objectionable. Perhaps it is best to find common values, such as love of one’s family or country, and use these feelings to encourage change in the form of peace, rather than succumb to violent methods.

Listen to a serene forest in the early morning: the song of the birds, the flow of a river, the tranquility in the environment; this is Peace. Feeling love for one another, listening to people’s points of view, giving aid to one another; this is Peace.

To me, Peace is a state of serenity, a state free of war, violence and disturbance. Peace is not perfect; it is flawed but it is an acceptance. Peace is the ability to feel safe and to have freedom. Peace is the acceptance to disagree, but to come to a compromise. In this world, countries have been fighting throughout history over ethnicity, religion, and land all because of the infatuation of power. Jimi Hendrix once said, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

Brave, passive activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi fought for Peace. These leaders fought for different reasons, but for the sole purpose to achieve Peace through non-violence. They did this through love and compassion for one another and through speaking up for acceptance, freedom and equality for all people. Adversities are inevitable, yet they can be overcome. They can be overcome by working together, standing up against violence through passive resistance and starting a chain reaction. Peace is universal. It only takes one helping hand, one small act of kindness to ignite a flame, to spread Peace, to change the world.

Life is a heterogeneous collection of joyous memories, tragic hardships, and rewarding experiences. Life is beautiful, unfair, limitless, frustrating, and mysterious; Life is real. Every individual possesses the audacity to foster the uniqueness we call life. This audacity springs from within. Life is a journey of one thousand steps. The first step begins with an individual decision. I believe that the meaning of peace is synonymous with the meaning of life, a complex yet remarkably simple concept. When asked to elaborate on the meaning of peace, most would offer “non-violence” or “an uncontroversial state of being.” However, peace extends far beyond this realm of tangible comprehension. The meaning of peace is more than meets the eye.

Peace has long been debated by philosophers and politicians alike. Albert Einstein once stated, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” Peace does not contain a mathematical formula nor does it entail clear-cut rules; peace is abstractly individualized. Being at peace is truly discovering oneself, respecting others, and most importantly, understanding life. Understanding is the portal to achieving peace from within. Even the famous scientist, Albert Einstein, reminds us that peace must be chosen and not forced upon. Although many would argue that peace is a community or national effort, I believe peace ignites from the soul of the individual. After all, if we as individuals are at peace, the world transforms into a radiant array of unique life journeys.

Peace is an innate language. Through peace, we are able to communicate with one another. Peace is the same throughout any culture, religion, or view, despite all of our differences. This one language helps unite us in one common goal, to achieve world peace. Once you are aware of peace, and figure out how to spread it, you will instantly find a connection to the hundreds of thousands of people trying to spread peace worldwide. Gandhi and Dr. King were able to unite hundreds of thousands of people. Spreading peace in your home, community, or school you will create a sense of unity. The spreading of peace will also strengthen your relationships with the people you love as well.

Although peace can mean tranquility or calmness, unity is the most powerful definition. Peace can unify many people of different backgrounds or even the same background. Dr. King unified black Americans, by acting as a focal point to unite behind. He also facilitated communicate between geographically disparate groups. They all had something to talk about, the chance of being free and equal and the chance to have peace in the world.

Like Dr. Martin Luther, try to spread peace to people and unify them. It will be amazing how many new people you will meet and how many relationships you will strengthen. Remember, peace is an innate language that brings unity to the multitudes of people worldwide who share a common goal of goodness.

Once upon a time, I closed my eyes and envisioned a beautiful land of eternal solace, perpetual sunshine and unceasing harmony. It was, to me, the utter embodiment of peace. I opened my eyes and from that point forward, I embarked on a quest; I needed to find this place of my dreams. I searched for my utopia in other individuals as well as particular places. The effort, was, however, futile; nowhere could I find the paradise that I so desperately sought. I closed my eyes again, and the alluring wonderland once more emerged. It was then that I ultimately realized the true nature of peace.

Peace was not some extrinsic force that I could find from a certain individual nor was it a particular region. Rather, peace was an internal force, a flame that burned within me. Why did I seek to find peace elsewhere when all I had to do was hear my inner self?

This very flame burns within you, too. In fact, it is the cornerstone upon which we all live. Peace is the simple smile I share with my neighbor every day. Peace is the listening ear you lend to your loved ones. Peace is the cry within us, demanding that we selflessly serve our fellow mankind.

When I shut my eyes and truly listened to my inner voice, I attained my heaven, my peace. Now, close your eyes to find yours.