A good friend of mine invited me to read a document called “the Letter of Peace addressed to the UN” The truth is, what with my work and other activities, I didn’t get round to it.

A little over five years ago I was having lunch with some friends at the home of J.M. González Feria, writer and promoter of this Letter of Peace, and he suggested that we all read it and put it into practice. This time, however, I did listen!

When I got home I sat down to read the book that he himself had written: “The Letter of Peace addressed to the UN Commentaries”, and after just one reading of the Letter I realised that there was far more depth than I could have ever imagined. So I got down to work because I knew what was in the book and I wanted to put it into practise. I went to Barcelona and met María Viñas and the team who work at the Foundation and I began to drink from this fountain. The more I did, the more I liked it and the more I learned to value myself and others and, thus, accept myself and them exactly as they are. I began to get a taste of peace and sensed just how I could grow into a peace bearer.

As we all know, when we get a taste for something we like, we want more… well, for this very reason we set up the Andalucía Letter of Peace Association whose headquarters are in Puerto Real, Cadiz over four years ago. We strive to communicate this document to all the towns and cities in Andalucía using solemn presentations, theatre, stories, courses, magazines, etc. We believe that if it has changed our lives and continues to do so because we keep learning from each and every one of its points- if we succeed in living in harmony day after day, or at least try to, it is because we are able to value other people’s freedom and therefore our own.

If I was asked to highlight something that I had experienced, learnt or tested out over these years, I would undoubtedly say that enthusiasm is key in life, it builds a more celebratory world.

It is undoubtedly a long, arduous task… but it is worth it!