Peace Pilgrim
Mildred Lisette Norman was born on July 18, 1908. On January 1st, 1953, after years of meditation and walking that led her to a spiritual awakening, she left the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena California and started walking. She left behind her name and virtually all of her belongings. Peace Pilgrim spent the rest of her life walking to promote peace, and walked over 25,000 miles until her death in 1981 (ironically, in a car accident as she was being driven to an interview). Once she became Peace Pilgrim she didn't want to talk about her previous life; she wanted instead to talk about peace and how to find it in yourself, since she thought that was necessary before we could attain world peace. But I wanted to know what led to her awakening and transformation. I hope she doesn't mind that I included some details from her earlier life in the song. Check the links below for more about this fascinating woman, like how she eloped in her twenties, or how she loved meat but later became a fervent vegetarian.
Links for more info:
peacepilgrim.org This is the official site about Peace Pilgrim's work, and has pictures, quotes, her teachings, biographical info and more.
Peace Pilgrim's 28 Year Walk This is where I learned that earlier in her life she ate ice cream for lunch daily and loved makeup and expensive clothes.
Her sister Helene Young was also a free spirit who died January 2021 at age 105.
I found this interesting article on her June 2021 but you may need to be an LA Times subscriber to read it.
Friends of Peace Pilgrim - Home | Facebook
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought."
"Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them! There is great freedom in simplicity of living. It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest."
"The way of peace is the way of love. Love is the greatest power on earth. It conquers all things."
Peace Pilgrim