At this moment, people everywhere are avoiding a conversation with someone at home or work whose attitude or behavior is problematic. And they are paying the price. A close friend readily admits that she avoids confrontation at all costs. She just wants “peace in the land.” And, of course, nothing changes, nothing improves. The peace she desires is fragile, bogus, and her blood pressure is high. I was with her recently when she got a parking ticket and was shocked to see her fall apart and sob. Gradually, then suddenly, it was all too much. It’s significant when a relatively small event snaps an internal string that has been too tight for too long, and we find ourselves undone. Peace in the land — within a school, within a family, between nations — will arrive one successful conversation at a time. Confronting a tough issue is never fun, but the outcomes are pure gold. It is a skill that can be readily learned and practiced. Consider the experience of Bryan McLain, principal of Denton Creek Elementary in Coppell, Texas.

— Susan Scott