com*pas*sion

~*~*~*~*~

n. Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

I'm struggling these days, with a TON of emotional stuff. Seems the more I let go of my perceived control of my emotions, the more chaotic my emotions become. Ha! Imagine that!

I've been thinking a lot about compassion. How it feels to want it and not have it, and how it feels to have it and not give it.

Compassion is a funny thing. It doesn't require that you agree with what a person does or that you condone their freedom to chose a path different than yours. It doesn't ask you to judge - to determine if the person deserves their suffering. No, it only requires that you be aware of the suffering of another and have a desire to see them relieved of that suffering.

Yet we seem to dole out compassion in little, measured bits - hording it - afraid we might accidentally give some of it to someone undeserving. I've done it - looked at a situation and walked away with all of my compassion chips held tightly in my fist - knowing that those people didn't deserve my compassion generosity.

It's not like I can bank compassion - save it all up and earn interest on it - use it for a better retirement. I won't run out of compassion - it's a renewable resource! So what is it that keeps me from offering compassion?

What is it that keeps you from offering compassion?

~*~*~*~*~

Sunday Secret

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I have no doubt that some people who read my blog prefer to believe the worst in me - when they stand from a position of judgment, or condemnation, it is far easier to deny that anything I might say or do could possibly touch their own lives. As hard as it is to hear their words, I am grateful for them - they are the readers/commentors who teach me empathy and compassion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~