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Daily Question, June 24

How am I cultivating and showing compassion right now?

  • Malag

    Attended a discussion on racial discrimination and got an inkling of the micro-aggressions (and much worse) people of colour experience. As a privileged white I got a wake-up on how privileged that privilege is. I could not help but be moved by the stories I heard.

  • Don Jones

    Checking in on myself each day to reflect and address the ever present question, “Am I better today?” Walking around that question in deep, honest review and seeing what is. Taking complete responsibility. Going forth striving for another positive step down the path each day.

  • Dusty Su
    I am in government quarantine at the moment and have minimal human contact—if any at all. Each time the food is delivered, the doorbell rings. I have to step back and wait until the person has gone. I always yell out, “Good morning, thank you.” The other detainees on my floor are starting to yell out thank you too—as are the guards. Today, they tried to beat me to showing gratitude and yelled first. Each time a nurse calls to check on my symptoms, I tell them that my most significant sy...

    I am in government quarantine at the moment and have minimal human contact—if any at all. Each time the food is delivered, the doorbell rings. I have to step back and wait until the person has gone. I always yell out, “Good morning, thank you.” The other detainees on my floor are starting to yell out thank you too—as are the guards. Today, they tried to beat me to showing gratitude and yelled first.
    Each time a nurse calls to check on my symptoms, I tell them that my most significant symptom is that I’m totally gorgeous. They crack up laughing. I ask to share an encouraging quote about compassion, love, or overcoming, and thank them sincerely for their dedication and help towards keeping us all safe. They are so grateful and sometimes nearly cry.
    I’ve been writing emails and making FaceTime calls to encourage and work with people in stressful situations. I’ve helped Deathwalk two of my friend’s family members over in these two weeks, and helped be support through two births as well.
    What this has taught me is, you can be love and compassion even if only in small ways, in the most difficult of situations. By being compassionate, my stay in isolation has been uplifted. I feel inspired and challenged to be a better example of love and compassion when I get out.

    Read More
    • Debra

      Dusty Su: You are an inspiration! Thank you hopefully soon through an open door.

      • Dusty Su

        Thanks Deb,
        One more day until, some face to face with others, sunshine, walks, food I want, when I want, and with chili in it, and the start to getting a semblance of my life back. It’s going to be exciting.

    • Michele

      Your response about your most significant symptom cracked me up and reminded me of my cousin who passed away 9 yrs ago in a car accident. He would say “I can’t wait for tomorrow”, when asked why, response “because I get better looking everyday” RIP Rob:)

      • Dusty Su

        Ahh, that’s a beautiful story. RIP Rob, better looking every day. Love it. Bless.

    • Zenith

      I agree.

  • Ineke Bennink

    Door goed te luisteren en en de ander laten praten.

  • Deb S. N.C.
    Growing and maintaining self-love and care of ourselves, or self-compassion, serves and guides us as this is the first step that allows us to show compassion through the ways we live in the presence of others. At first it feels easier for me to go straight for reaching out to others as it is part of my nature, and it is in itself a good thing for sure. Still, though the internal work can be daunting as we deal with sorting out lifelong messages that have shaped our ego, leaving what does not ser...

    Growing and maintaining self-love and care of ourselves, or self-compassion, serves and guides us as this is the first step that allows us to show compassion through the ways we live in the presence of others. At first it feels easier for me to go straight for reaching out to others as it is part of my nature, and it is in itself a good thing for sure. Still, though the internal work can be daunting as we deal with sorting out lifelong messages that have shaped our ego, leaving what does not serve us behind, we are then able to choose the loving, positive lessons which become our strength, which protects us and extends to those in need.

    Read More
  • Present Moment
    Since leaving Minnesota 13 years ago, one of the things I've missed most has been the compassionate way Minnesotans treat eachother. I always assumed this arose out of our harsh winter weather. To NOT help a fellow human in those conditions could easily mean their death. Now, in Mexico, I see the same compassion displayed toward strangers following yesterday's earthquake. I guess all people are ready and willing to give compassionate help when the situation is obviously life or dea...

    Since leaving Minnesota 13 years ago, one of the things I’ve missed most has been the compassionate way Minnesotans treat eachother. I always assumed this arose
    out of our harsh winter weather. To NOT help a fellow human in
    those conditions could easily mean their death.
    Now, in Mexico, I see the same compassion displayed toward strangers following yesterday’s earthquake. I guess all people are ready and willing to give compassionate help when the situation is obviously life or death. It’s as if they need the circumstance to give them the permission.

    Read More
  • Mica

    By giving my adult child the space they want from me. … Hah! I just answered today’s question in my belated answer to a previous question! – …. In my present case, caregiving means giving my adult child the space they want from me. After weeks and weeks of going back and forth in my mind, “I should have…” “they should have…”, I’m now just in a place of compassion for their suffering.

  • Carol
    When I think of the word compassion, I remind myself of its origins (com-to be with) and passion (emotion and endurance). Right now, I'm struggling with injuries from a fall into a window well...yes, a window well! I'm furious at myself for not being careful enough to avoid the mishap but I am very thankful it did not result in broken bones. I am struggling with a painful ankle, hip, arm and neck. When I start to chastise myself about the miss-step that resulted in the injury, I have to treat my...

    When I think of the word compassion, I remind myself of its origins (com-to be with) and passion (emotion and endurance). Right now, I’m struggling with injuries from a fall into a window well…yes, a window well! I’m furious at myself for not being careful enough to avoid the mishap but I am very thankful it did not result in broken bones. I am struggling with a painful ankle, hip, arm and neck. When I start to chastise myself about the miss-step that resulted in the injury, I have to treat myself with compassion. I’m reminded of a quote from Native American wisdom: “A river does not run backward. That’s one of the Creator’s laws.” Compassion is the way we help one another and ourselves endure.

    Read More
  • Skeeter

    By meditating on sending love to me neighbors. They have been very aggressive and hurtful to me. I am reflecting on the fact that they are doing the best they can perhaps given where they are in life. And on myself knowing that I am also doing the best that I can. We are all one and I need to work on what it is that I am doing to manifest this, even if unconsciously.

    • Mica

      May you give yourself compassion, too, Skeeter!

  • pkr

    By giving myself a “peaceful pause” at this moment.

    • Mica

      Cool! And you’re here on gratefulness during your ‘peaceful pause’ ;-]

  • Maria

    By firstly practicing self compassion and by learning to love myself

  • Zenith

    As someone who has survived homelessness and the loss that goes with that, compassion has been hardwired into me. Having compassion is a normal response for me. The question is how and when to make it visible. Little actions like verbally thanking the bus driver or grocery clerks are one way I show gratitude on a daily basis.

    • Deb S. N.C.
      Thank you for your sharing and describing this, it is powerful and it resonates with me. It is through the difficult life experiences, mainly loss, that have hard-wired me, as well. It is a gift, you know, to recognize this, your own self-work being able to dig deeply to find the good within the rubble of loss, becomes a beacon of light that not only guides you , but for others as they will notice what you do, say and how you listen. More often than not making it visible is the right answer. Gra...

      Thank you for your sharing and describing this, it is powerful and it resonates with me. It is through the difficult life experiences, mainly loss, that have hard-wired me, as well. It is a gift, you know, to recognize this, your own self-work being able to dig deeply to find the good within the rubble of loss, becomes a beacon of light that not only guides you , but for others as they will notice what you do, say and how you listen. More often than not making it visible is the right answer. Gratitude to you!

      Read More
    • Mica

      Thank you, Zenith, for your wonderful statement about verbal thanks! May I learn to develop that practice myself.

  • Ed Schulte

    Blood Donor clinic visit to-day. Just finished the required questionary and confirmation of COVID-19 clear.

    Compassion in liquid Life form.

    • Michele

      As a Medical Lab Technician who worked for a large blood bank, THANK YOU for your donation! One whole blood donation can save 3 peoples lives:)

    • Mica

      Go, Ed! Good deed, especially these days!!

  • Katrina

    I have a new app that guides me in daily meditation. It is wonderful and has really helped me be a more centered and compassionate person. I am so grateful for it.

  • Michele

    I like to pass on positive affirmations that I enjoy to my kids. The Honest Guys on youtube are great – very calming voice, nice English accent.

    I always try to smile at people too:)

  • Howie Geib

    By being forgiving, not in the sense of not holding resentment so much as like a reed of tall grass or a tall Australian Pine that wafts and bends in the wind…It is a giving way which while at first glance looks selfless is actually making the choreography go smoother. Yet never a result of calculation to my benefit as much as doing what is best for all.

  • Kevin

    I feel able to say that I foster and demonstrate compassion by being the person that I am. It is a gift, and at times a challenge. A gift because I can sense when compassion is needed, and a challenge because when other lives are suffering I want to address and relieve its cause and there are so, so many in need of compassion right now.

  • Does a Buddha need compassion?
    what a lovely koan to contemplate
    ???

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