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The pool at the Provincetown Inn
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Yesterday we watched a Mother and her little girl walk along the sidewalk into town. It was obvious this was a child who was encouraged to about wonder, just from the way she walked.
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To me Compassion is a fancy word for kindness.
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Compassion means being kind.
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And what struck me when I read this quote on Susan's Facebook is that it doesn't matter what you do for work, and it doesn't matter if the circumstances of your life are good or bad.
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What matters is that you know that kindness is the road to your own happiness.
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I am pretty sure about this.
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Since I'm on vacation, with time to wax and wane through all the colors and words I often don't have or make time for, I thought I'd just stop by to mention this not-so-little fact about compassion and kindness.
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What Do You Do?
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At the very very very least, let it be kind....
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Love
kj
The pool at the Provincetown Inn.
My friend Susan recently posted this quote on Facebook:
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There is a common perception that compassion is, if not actually an
impediment, at least irrelevant to professional life. Personally, I
would argue that not only is it relevant, but that when compassion is
lacking, our activities are in danger of becoming destructive. This is
because when we ignore the question of the impact our actions have on
others' well-being, inevitably we end up hurting them. ~Dalai Lama
.
..
There is a common perception that compassion is, if not actually an
impediment, at least irrelevant to professional life. Personally, I
would argue that not only is it relevant, but that when compassion is
lacking, our activities are in danger of becoming destructive. This is
because when we ignore the question of the impact our actions have on
others' well-being, inevitably we end up hurting them. ~Dalai Lama
.
Now why would I be thinking about this in the midst of a long wonderful vacation in a magical place?
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I know someone who is bright and charming and alluring. But she lacks compassion. I know she will not find peace because of that..
.
Yesterday we watched a Mother and her little girl walk along the sidewalk into town. It was obvious this was a child who was encouraged to about wonder, just from the way she walked.
.
.
.
To me Compassion is a fancy word for kindness.
.
Compassion means being kind.
.
And what struck me when I read this quote on Susan's Facebook is that it doesn't matter what you do for work, and it doesn't matter if the circumstances of your life are good or bad.
.
What matters is that you know that kindness is the road to your own happiness.
.
I am pretty sure about this.
.
Since I'm on vacation, with time to wax and wane through all the colors and words I often don't have or make time for, I thought I'd just stop by to mention this not-so-little fact about compassion and kindness.
.
What Do You Do?
.
At the very very very least, let it be kind....
.
Love
kj
I believe these two go hand in hand..if you are compassionate, you are kind...but what is kindness...putting all others before yourself..this too can be destructive...therefore, we must find an equal balance, moderation is the key....be kind to others and be kind to yourself...a better world this would be...a much happier person...if only everyone thought like this....
ReplyDeleteWow KJ.... wonderful post! I love the pictures of you too...giggle...beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteI guess I have really strong feelings about this one. I really believe we can't move on without it..compassion. I think we remain stuck in out spot emotionally and spiritually if we choose to not offer it up. I think for some it is a natural thing like breathing..for some it has to be practiced. But I seriously do not thing anything bad ever came from a bit of compassion being offered. Sometimes it makes things a little harder..but in the long run I think we all feel better when we do!
Wonderful post hon!! Hugs, Sarah
Kj, I totally agree. And in the kind of work you do it is very important to be compassionate and kind. It is important for all of us, no matter what kind of work. And not just kindness towards other people, but animals, the planet and even bugs! xoxo
ReplyDeleteCompassion is something I think we should give to ourselves as well as other people. If you can find empathy and kindness for another person-why not yourself
ReplyDeleteI suspect people who are not compassionate really beat themselves up as well. It's a shame.
What a lovely thing to think about when you have time. The world would be better if we had more time. More time to remember.
ReplyDeleteOMG!you are having fun aren't you??
All the lovely pictures, that lady statue is amazing, what a beautiful place, sending cards to your kids, they will love that!
That is compassion, making the difference in those kid's lives. They will look back years from now and remember you, you know that right? One small, little moment of kindness can rock some one elses world to the foundations.
You were born for this moment. We all are.
Love and hugs.
"Have compassion for everyone you meet
ReplyDeleteeven if they don’t want it. What seems conceit,
bad manners, or cynicism is always a sign
of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen.
You do not know what wars are going on
down there where the spirit meets the bone."
Miller Williams
I think this is something that we need to consciously do each and every day x
Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders ( How to win business and Influence Friends ) . Tim is Chief solutions officer at Yahoo published by Crown Business in New York 2002.
ReplyDeleteIt's on my bookshelf.
Compassion is also referred to by HH the Dalai Lama as "Loving Kindness" so you nailed it!
ReplyDeleteHe also says that loving kindness is to be practised daily on all who cross our path.
That to practice loving kindness on another we do not need to like them, trust them or admire them, that loving kindness is to be given to all. That trusting someone or loving someone are completely different acts and are not to be confused with loving kindness.
Lovely post kj, keep enjoying your holiday!
xxm
To me, compassion encompasses both kindness and empathy. So needed in this world.
ReplyDeleteCompassion is sometimes misunderstood for pity, at least by people who don't "get" kindness. i.e., they do not understand what kindness really is and that may be because they have not ever or have rarely received kindness themselves. If one starts from a core of self-pity, then that colors what they understand compassion to be. Seems to me that if you pity yourself or anyone else it freezes you from the ability to open yourself to compassion.
ReplyDeleteKeep those vacation shots a'comin. :)
oh my goodness i couldn't agree with you more kj. as long as it is genuine, i hate compassion being shown to me with a huge slap of falseness attached! in this sad sad world of ours the least we can do is show and FEEl compassion for others.
ReplyDeletekudos for you for yet another enlightening post dear one.
I always tell myself that if my kids have learned the importance of compassion, I have done my job. :) Life really isn't much without it. xox! Pam
ReplyDeleteAh, my wise and dear friend - this post is wonderful. I found I was losing my soul when I was working in the corporate world. Kindness and compassion were seen as a weakness. When I left that world to focus on motherhood, it felt so good to be kind and to teach kindness. It hurt me terribly to see my children suffer in school and church because of the unkindness of others (children and adults, alike). But, luckily, they survived these unkindnesses. And I'm sure they are resilient enough now, to survive other unkindnesses, as well. In fact, there is enough kindness and compassion in their hearts to pass it on.
ReplyDelete