The other day I bought an unusual piece of software: It runs positive affirmations on my computer, so they can influence me while I work. Sentences like “I am full of confidence” or “I love everyone I meet”. The kind that is supposed to help me so that I stop being negative.

I liked idea, but much to my surprise, it didn’t feel completely right. I just couldn’t understand why. After all, I was doing right thing…

I was, wasn’t I? I mean, I tried to ignore not-so-positive thoughts I’m capable of, and I was reinforcing good ones instead of. That’s good, isn’t it?

Maybe not. Imagine we agree that, in order to prevent further killings in our world, we will remove every killer from face of earth. Kill killer. If we do that consequently we will have to kill person who killed killer as well. In end, there will be no one left here to enjoy peace...

What happens if we negate our negativity? For some reason it makes me think about Middle East conflict. How did it all begin? Being Jewish I can see it from Jewish point of view. Having been refugee earlier in my life, I can see it from Palestinian point of view as well. But, I know very little about history or politics, so what I am going to say here is merely a picture, nothing more. This article is not about politics - it's about inner conflicts. That being said, here is my picture:

I suppose it all started with mutual lack of accept between Jews and those around them. A conflict that often led to suppression, isolation, violence. Out of conflict idea emerged, that only way to resolve it was to remove problem. The Nazis tried to remove problem by removing Jews altogether. Some of Jews decided to remove problem by removing themselves from a hostile world and create their own home somewhere else. To ignore negativity and to move to something more positive. Naturally they (and United Nations) agreed on their biblical home: Israel. But, there were people having their home there already - Palestinians.

Now, all Jews wanted was to live in peace, alone. So did Palestinians, I’m sure. Apparently none of parties wished to blend, to cherish and love each other, to share home. Over time, old negativity reappeared, mutual lack of tolerance and understanding accelerated, leading to bloody situation we witness today.

Could it be, that trying to remove problem doesn’t lead to peace?

Her skepticism was a compliment at time. Her disbelief was a subtle way of saying that I had some writing ability. You know what? I bragged about it for days!

What is power of touch anyway?

Science tells us that a touch triggers release of brain endorphins — an endogenous analgesic more powerful than heroin or morphine. But touch is more than just a scientific confluence of brain chemicals.

My late grandmother used to tell me that only way to tame a wild cat was to rub cat’s forehead several times. One day, a relative from mountain village gave my family a wild female cat. She was small but fierce. Nobody in house dared to touch her.

But grandma’s wisdom compelled me to try. I approached cat. Initially, she would jump and would bend its body and tail in rage. Meanwhile, a loud, ferocious cry would come out from her vicious mouth. Each time I attempted to touch her, she would run away. Eventually I prevailed. She later gave in and allowed me to rub her forehead — initially, for a few seconds, then for a few minutes.