fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
“Africans and African Americans born with Actual Blue Eyes”
By: Ladonna Crawford
Tags: Compassion, Equality, Unconditional Love, Prejudice, Acceptance

“Natures true Mysteries”

“Africans and African Americans born with Actual Blue Eyes”

“Mr. Stevie Wonder”

Hello everyone, and Happy holidays to all. I wanted to share this Amazing story with all of you because, I feel as though there’s a very powerful “Message” in this Story. For those of you who weren’t aware of this, I decided to show the videos and actual scientific explanation, to you right away so that I can get right to my “Point”.

My Story regarding Black people with blue eyes, is in my “Opinion” really about the fact that Society, all of the different “Nations” races need to Stop focusing how different races “ Appear” I believe that the “Creator, God” Made These rare people, I’m order to show the world that, people are born with different skin colors, eye colors, some become very tall, while others are “Little persons”, and the list of differences, go on and on.

So I just want you to “Imagine”, if you can ? What our world would be like, if we all were the “Same”!! I think it wouldn’t be as interesting in our world, as it is. However, I think that once again, “Our Creator” wanted to make this world an interesting place, also it’s very important for people to learn how to “ Accept”, one another for who they are.

Think about this for a moment, when people discriminate on someone, that is ridiculous. Because first of all, no one “Made themselves”……!!!!🤔 right . so no one had a choice in the color of their skin,or if they are male or female, you get the pont now ??

Also, people are actually all “Equal”, no one is better than the other, even though, that’s been Very controversial, over the “Centuries” man decided to, make certain rules regarding who’s the more “Superior human being”. That wasn’t what the Creator wanted I’m pretty sure.

We all could learn from the Children, they get it. I believe that discrimination/racism is a “Taught, learned behavior. So let’s love one another’s differences. Differences aren’t a bad thing, it’s simply a fact.

Especially now with this “Virus”, that’s trying to get rid of all of us. Let’s love one another, and come together to get rid of this Dreadful Virus out in the “World”.

Thank you for your ”Time”……

God Bless .
Galline in fuga (dalle gabbie): quante sono davvero quelle “allevate a terra” e il primato di Barilla
By: Emanuele Capone
Tags: Barilla, Farming, Eggs, Compassion, Medium Italia

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
Sister Joanie
By: Amy Pierovich
Tags: Compassion, Singing, Faith, Joan Baez, Poetry

Sister Joanie

Photo by Marian Kroell on Unsplash

Like a song bird in the air,

I first heard your voice call out to me,

a tender, lyrical, far-reaching soprano,

I felt my heart-song sing.

You stirred something deep inside,

made me long for your profound beauty,

desire your abiding happiness,

hope for a peaceful world,

sing o song bird sing.

Born Joan Chandos Baez,

January 9, 1941, you said,

“To sing is to praise God and the daffodils,

and to praise God is to thank Him.”

Your parents were Quakers,

of Mexican and Scottish descent,

who strongly influenced you

— pacifist, vegetarian, humanitarian, advocate of equality,

love for every human being.



At the March on Washington, on August 28, 1963,

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., introduced you as “Sister Joanie,”

then you sweetly sang the song,

“We Shall Overcome.”

In the South, you would not play at discriminatory venues,

only at Black ones,

who welcomed everyone;

you held onto your principles,

bar none.

Growing up, you lived in the U.S., England, France, Switzerland, Spain, Canada, and the Middle East, myriad international influences,

which gave you an understanding of different cultures in this world.

Fluent in English and Spanish, you recorded songs in six other languages,

you have been performing for over sixty years.

You wrote, “Gracias a la Vida,” giving thanks for life,

you also wrote, “Sweet Sir Galahad,” such an imagination;

you will also be remembered for singing “Farewell Angelina,”

a lovely folk ballad, wistful tune.

What I remember most was meeting you,

one day in a Chinese restaurant in Palo Alto in 1982.

I remember your kindness, as I asked you for your autograph,

you gave it freely, and then asked me about myself,

an undergraduate student, French major,

I stammered out some words to you

— my long-time idol, gifted, unique, miraculous,

now suddenly, tender towards me,

I was in complete awe of you.

Joan,

you said, “Thank you, God, for giving me ears to hear crying,

legs to come running, hands to smooth damp hair.”

Unparalleled, lovely, sensitive, a sense of an other-world.

Richard “Red” Williams said about you,

“It was like the singing of some wonderful bird.”

May your life be long and blessed,

for all that you have given others,

sing o song bird sing.
Why?
By: Laura Sheridan
Tags: Compassion, Christmas, Environment, Trees, Waste

Why?

Photo by Jene Yeo on Unsplash

Darkly in a pagan wood

where plump ptarmigans run

and cold shimmers from the sky

pine trees thrive

and grow, tall as a child, vigorous,

sprouting cones and comb’s teeth in forest green

clustered over rigid branches

prepared for decades of growth,

thrusting upward through the snow, hailing frost,

leaking no oily sap,

knowing all seasons just once or twice.

But no more of this season.

Tremors vibrate the earth, invaders

buzz-sawing for the jollity of Santa,

razing swathes for fairy lights, baubles

and Twelve Days by a window, next to a radiator.

Needles drop, some cones remain,

branches still strong and erect

until Twelfth Night, when the stripping takes place,

dismemberment,

then black-binned and cast outside

with the turkey carcass.
building connection = default + 1
By: William Liao
Tags: Marketing, Growth Mindset, Entrepreneurship, Compassion

1 idea, 60 seconds, daily to spur action towards our best work, serving others, and living meaningfully and mindfully

Machine-printed 5x7 “thank you” cards, Linked in connection invites with the canned message “I’d like to join your network, please.” and silence are the default because they are what most people will send and do.

Default robs you of your voice (because others said the same thing).

Default is impossible to parse (because everyone acted identically).

Default is hard hard to pay attention to because we’re accustomed to seeing it (see: habituation).

Default, for all these reasons, is pro-noise and doesn’t work well for forming meaningful connections with others.

Here’s a proposed solution: whatever is decidedly default, add one thing to it.

Examples of +1 action (things that most people will not do): hand-written cards, putting your phone away when you’re having a conversation with another human, sending a thank-you e-mail to your team after a long day of work.

All connections worth having in life start with earning the attention of the people we want to engage. +1 action is an on opportunity to earn attention (and respect) by expressing (rather peculiarly) that you care deeply for the person you’re engaging with.
Within & beyond anguish. My mother’s mind was like a fallen…
By: Merilyn Childs
Tags: Trauma Recovery, Compassion, Alzheimers, Healing From Trauma, Mental Health

It’s over a year since Helen died. I am thinking about anguish. About grief. About Helen and the broken journey without words into her own mind where I could not join her. Where she could not say ‘I am afraid’ aloud. She could not give words to her trauma, nor find resolution within, though could be calmed with kindness, laughter and gentle touch.

I learnt a lot from Mum’s dying of Alzheimer’s which I have written about here and here. In hushed tones, over coffee, people tell me how much they fear Alzheimer’s — the slipping away of memory, car keys, pin numbers, loved one’s names, being and body. Incontinence pads. Aged care. Yes, I understand, I say.

But what I do not say is: what I fear more than anything is being in my mind/body lost, alone. Because I learnt from Helen that your body can remember trauma, even if your mind no longer can.

The wellbeing of older people is often trivialized by shallow throw-away lines that allege that being older means you don’t have to give a damn anymore. No, that’s a stereotype. Age in itself is not a resolution to mental health challenges. These do not evaporate magically just because you turn 60 and start wearing purple.

Hope & Compassion

I began this story with the title ‘Within & beyond anguish’ & the moving image called ‘Anguish’ painted by August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck in 1877. The image shows a sheep keening for her dead lamb, with crows circling to devour its remains and she can do nothing. This is what transgenerational trauma — my mother’s & my own — looked & felt like to me.

I am ending this story with a photograph of the flowers I pulled together to make holiday wreaths in December 2020. Crafty work that my gardener’s hands, made wise & tough through Helen’s native garden influences, have not done before. I think of Mum in the red of the eucalyptus buds & flowers.

Experiencing Mum’s life and anguished journey towards dying inspired me to think more deeply about mental health in my professional and personal lives. I introduced the blended learning version of Mental Health First Aid in 2016 at Macquarie University to assist Senior Managers & HDR Supervisors to respond more effectively to HDR candidates with mental health challenges. I joined the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, and began a scholarly journey about trauma-informed mental health research to grow my understanding. I also completed a number of brilliant, free online courses at Dementia Training Australia.

I spent time on my own somatic journey.

In 2021 I’ll be attempting a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health at Nan Tien Institute. I chose the Institute’s Graduate Certificate because of it’s focus on mindfulness, reflection, contemplation, ethics and compassion — all consistent with my current journey.

One of the subjects I’ll be studying is Older Person’s Mental Health. I look forward to learning more.
When Career Turns Into Compassion
By: Karthik S H
Tags: Pets And Animals, Pets, Compassion

When Compassion Becomes Passion

When I got my first salary, the happiness dawned in, with a touch of misery, guess what? We all know the name, its called earn more. Our ambitions and our payslips never go hand in hand, guiding us to an infinite loop of unintended checkouts. Looking back at my own life, it seems like a pattern, to be very specific a generic mantra set by the so-called society called “Survival is a direct outcome of your pay”. But they tell an ant never sleeps hungry.

On a Sunday afternoon, I happened to enter this place, in the beginning, it looked like a pet theme park. An entry fee of Rs 50 was charged to us. Everything looked normal until I saw a dog with a broken jaw being served by the person named Rajesh. He also owns the pet planet. Everything sounds normal right, but hold on. The 50Rs which was collected in the beginning was the source of well being for the ailing pet.

Going forward our vision fell on a wide range of species. Each had their own tough story of origin. I mean if once was hurt in an accident another missed their group during their typical ride of migration. From a parrot to a snake everyone was under one roof called compassion lead by DR RAJENDRA SIRSIKAR(VET), the man holding the horse in the first image. Out of curiosity, I asked him, who funds this pet planet. He smilingly replied the ultimate. I scratched the surface a little more regarding the cost it takes to serve these animals. He gave me a small stat, it would take 3.5 thousand each day to serve the horses alone. I was flabergasted, why is he not charging more as the purpose was higher. But I swallowed this question as the horses' eyes were filled with the joy of love.

The last question, how can a person survive without a typical day job? I found the answer when your passion turns into compassion, life becomes fruitful. If it's not for compassion than why would a man work hard on a blazing Sunday running around the sheds to feed the empty stomachs of the unknown? Not everyone hails the same fate, my heart may not be the garden of compassion but this instance has seeded a plant in me. I am writing this post to raise a small amount of money, hoping to push his play of kindness at least for a day. If you're with me, please donate. Even a rupee counts.
Our Society Needs Healing.
By: Sadie Seroxcat
Tags: Humanity, Compassion, Creative Writing, Poetry, Society

How do we do that?

(A kind of prescription, a sort of poem.)

Learn.

Deconstruct to reconstruct.

Unpick. Study.

Devalue. Divest. Divert.

Remake. Rebuild.

Small steps.

One brick at a time.

Question why.

Is this brick still sound?

Can it be reused?

Can it be part of our new construct?

Don't use damaged and disintegrating bricks.

Don't discard those still whole and sturdy.

Do not be unseeing or unthinking.

Contemplation needs dissection.

New growth should build with lessons learned

Rather than mistakes repeated.

Society needs to be pulled apart.

It's component parts looked at closely.

Under a microscope.

What IS needs to be acknowledged.

The reasons need to be unearthed.

Denial gets us nowhere.

Halted and frozen.

No longer moving along the road to

Mutual understanding

And dignity.

We are broken.

We won't be fixed with a sticking plaster of platitudes And preaching of togetherness.

Society's flesh needs to be cut open.

Society's blood needs to flow.

Society's bones need to be examined ....

Broken....

And reset.

We need to dig deep.

We need to feel deep.

We need to think deep.

Expansively.

Critically.

With eyes and minds

Both

Wide open.

We are already divided.

Naming, acknowledging,

Studying and discussing these divisions

Does not cause the problem.

The problem is already there.

Hiding in dark corners.

Festering and stinking.

Like a gangrenous extremity.

Pour light on it.

See it.

Acknowledge it's existence.

Take a surgeons scalpel and cut

Part of it out.

Look at it closely.

Ascertain it's true nature.

Make sure, if need be,

It is taken cleanly.

In entirety.

Removed without a trace.

Keep watch in case it tries to regrow.

Or,

If such aggressive intervention is unnecessary,

Deemed so by close inspection,

Try other treatments.

Try to save the limb.

Do not just judge without sufficient light,

Proper examination,

Study and discussion.

Don't amputate if it can be healed.

Don't remove a leg when the loss of a toe would suffice.

Don't pretend it isn't there and hope it will go away.

There lies death of the whole organism.

Poke and prod.

Write.

Talk.

Divide.

Magnify.

Dissect.

Illuminate.

Ask why.

Dissolve.

Make every piece of information gained

More specific.

More personalised.

More unique.

For in the end, this is what we need.

Dignity and Acceptance of the Unique....

And the way there lies through a field

Of ever smaller boxes,

Until each box holds only one.

One person.

Beautiful and distinct

In perfect individuality.

Each of us our own.

All of us human.

Joined and separated

By our common diversity.

Neither bonding in sameness

Nor lack of understanding

Negates the need for love and compassion.

(Photo credit goes to Matt Colamer via Unsplash. Thank you!)
You Are Not Alone
By: Alice Floris
Tags: Compassion, Emotions, Illumination Curated, Poetry, Psychology

Learn more. Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn more

Make Medium yours. Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. Explore
About Compassion and a Harsh Lockdown in Our Country
By: Desiree Driesenaar
Tags: Compassion, Life, Covid 19, Community, Lockdown

Our country has gone in hard lockdown today for 5 weeks. Until January 19. For me personally, this has harsh consequences. We have to leave our home because our government doesn’t realize not everyone has central heating like in a normal house. And we cannot buy our heat source anymore.

When something like this happens, there are two routes:

1. We can be as self-sustaining as possible, not reliant on a shop or a government to supply stuff. Living in off-grid houses and producing our own food in food forests or community gardens

2. We can have strong connections with family, friends, and neighbors, so they can help us and we can help them with the things we lack at a certain moment

In our personal situation, it’s no problem. Mike and I have strong connections, we find solutions. But I really hope all of us will take care of those who are falling through the cracks. Don’t leave them by the wayside.

Homeless people, people in mourning because they lost their loved ones or livelihoods. People with psychological problems. The people who are now drowning in fear and the huge tsunami of energies flooding our world. These are fearful times for so many people!

Let’s stop bickering about solutions this winter. Let’s go inside, find our own calm, and help other people face their fear.
Enfolding the Heart of Loss
By: Bradley J Nordell
Tags: Compassion, Poetry, Cosmic, Suffering, Loss

Enfolding the Heart of Loss

Photo by Nastya Dulhiier on Unsplash

Sometimes I wake up

in the middle of the night

wondering if it was all a dream

But I know,

only reality

taste this bitter.

The folds of the blanket

remind me of those clouds

at the picnic,

when we watched the swans

drift across the pond

following evolutionary’s

blind algorithm,

wondering if that, too,

is love.

And did you also question,

who dropped the first stone,

in our sinusoidal love story?

Collapsing it all,

into a single genus-one

manifold of sin

and virtue.

In the curves of your lips

time runs down,

these jagged years.

And yet in a creaking

wooden chair,

the ghost of my uncle sits

taking away,

love and clarity

betting my soul,

at a table with the devil —

and I roam now, lost

in the city of mirrors.

I fear not death

nor infinity

nor the null of divinity,

but never existing

at all.

I fear being a shadow

of an empty afterthought

in the tired eye

of Eath’s magnetic soul.

I fear the maze,

you know the one,

because we stand there

now, in the eternal center

a place without

boundaries or borders

a rotating cathedral circle

as we arrive again,

at our emulated

blasphemous choices.

Is all our pain,

enfolded from the suffering

of the world?

Like a leaf inside a seed

yet grown?

In a cell before the baptism

before the quiet house

becomes too loud,

with regret.

Have we grown death

from the fertile lands of the heart?

In fear of failure, we decree

the apocalypse upon the future?

to a species weeping

the will o’ wisp, banshee

seeping and screaming,

into the soil,

of our graveyard tales

I know not,

the moon’s final cycle.

Listen…

Listen…

to the enfolding

of reality,

implicate being of one

and dream my love

O! dream of your escape

in wild reddened

poppy fields to sleep

to hope

to feel

not a thing.

© Bradley J Nordell 2020
SM Street: Oru Theruvinte Katha.
By: Kovilakam Residency
Tags: Visit, Compassion, Kozhikode, Travel, Kerala Tourism

Our 500+ year-old Sweet Meat Street aka Mitthai Theruve is one of the busiest shopping centres of Malabar/Kerala. The street’s sweet name comes from our Kozhikoden Halwa (called sweet meat by Britishers). Maybe our Kozhikoden values of compassion and love stem from the constant reminder that there is a sweet spot in the heart of our awe-inspiring Kozhikode.

Our SM street is recently renovated with cobblestone pavements, benches, beautiful lamps and lights. A stroll through our sweet street will definitely fill your lungs with our Kozhikoden Love.

Few random images:
Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves
By: Lara Heacock
Tags: Leadership, Self Kindness, Self Compassion, Compassion

Giving to others is a beautiful thing and I encourage everyone to find ways to do that…and to also give to yourself.

Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves. ~Pema Chodron

You’re the leader who cares about everyone on the team. You do a personal check-in to see how each person is doing; and you’re understanding when they need to take time off, handle something personal or just have an off day.

What about your off day? Do you understand when you need time off, need to handle something personal or don’t perform at your best? Or do you push yourself to keep going, to power through or to suck it up?

If there’s a difference between how you treat yourself and how you treat others, there will be a breaking point. There will be a day when your personal stress gets too high and you snap at your team. There will be a day when you are passive aggressive about someone needing time off.

Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves. ~Pema Chodron

See also — who you are is how you lead. ~Brene Brown

Or, in short — “If you want to give it to others, you’ve gotta start with the person in the mirror.” ~Lara Heacock with some help from Michael Jackson

This is the season of giving. It’s the holidays and we’re thinking about giving to others. Giving to others is a beautiful thing and I encourage everyone to find ways to do that…and to also give to yourself. Not necessarily with a material gift, although those are a wonderful gesture, but give to yourself with your presence.

How can you show up for yourself in the same way you strive to show up for others?

What do you need to be able to lead the way you want to lead?

What practices or habits or tools help you keep your foundation strong so that you can weather storms?

These can be great journaling prompts,or simply questions to help you reflect. As 2020 winds down as the hardest year of many people’s lives, kindness to ourselves is more important than ever. Without this piece it’s impossible to sustain our compassion for others.
Mother's Day Gift
By: Rohan Kadu
Tags: Short Story, Compassion

Mother's Day Gift

I missed and admired my father more since his attribute of being a provider, not only for materialistic necessities but also inculcating a curios and moralistic upbringing, was a constant source of inspiration even in his absence. My mother did her proverbial job of being a sole guardian to me and my brother in my kid years.

Besides doing the household chores alongside pursuing her Master's in language studies, she would be strict when I acted out of line while also kind when the anger subsided.

Buying her a mother's day gift was a challenge as I had a meager budget and no idea what she needed as she mostly had all basic utilities required as per my observation. But a fancy tea cup caught my eye and within a blink I decided what the gift would be.

She showed interest in the gift and I genuinely thought that my idea was

a success. The next day I saw our household maid drinking tea from her gift. I was both angry and sad since I understood that she was being compassionate but the honour of personalization was broken. I couldn't think again what to buy for her.
It seems to me that the world has lost its way.
By: Maria Rattray
Tags: Compassion, Morality, Justice, Leadership Coaching, Integrity

It seems to me that the world has lost its way. So much unrest, so much hatred, so much violence, all of which many of us can watch within the ‘comfort’ of our own homes.

When the 9/11 bombings occurred, I arrived at work totally oblivious to the disaster, to find my colleagues huddled together, tears freely flowing.

And I had no idea. Now, for the first time in history, we could freely watch wars on TV. The world was changed forever, I thought.

Yes it had changed, it was difficult to comprehend, or do anything about. I felt both helpless and despondent. It took so long to pick up the fragments of my life and go on living. For a long time I felt ill at ease, always looking over my proverbial shoulder, wondering, always wary.

If you’d like to read the rest of this article, please click the link below.
On Compassion
By: Shyam Wuppuluri Frsa
Tags: Dalai Lama, Compassion

On 25th of November, 2020, I have invited His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, to address a gathering on the topic of “Buddhism, Modern Science and Compassion”. HH shared with us an anecdote so touching that I can barely forget it in my life.

HH spoke about a senior monk, Phakyab Rinpoche, who was subjected to extreme torture in Chinese prisons. Once after he returned, Dalai Lama felt deep empathy for him, went near him and asked him “Did you feel scared during your time in the prison? Were you afraid?”

To which the monk replied: “Yes I was scared, not of the torture, but of the fact that I might lose my compassion for those that tortured me and was afraid that I may develop hatred towards them. Because these prison guards, they don’t know me. I don’t know them either. We don’t hold any personal vendetta or prior grudges towards each other. But due to their ignorance, delusion, hatred and some to support families and ideologies: they have signed up for this job. I was not the victim. The victims were my jailers. I had left prison now, but what about them? They were locked up in a vicious spiral that would hound them during this life and for many lives yet to come! I can only feel deep compassion towards them”.

(Paraphrased by me)
Grid of Compassion
By: Shyam Wuppuluri Frsa
Tags: Compassion

Like a grid — though bearing text on it — doesn’t cast anything that is painted on its top onto its shadow, apart from its grid-ful interconnectedness; when examined under the light of wisdom (prajna) and loving kindness (maitri), all sentient beings, though superficially bearing on them the marks of hatred, delusion, ignorance and identity, don’t cast anything onto the absolute, apart from their Buddha-nature, compassion and deep interconnectedness.

#Reflection
That Sound — Don’t You Want To Hear It More?
By: Agnes Louis
Tags: Laughter, Compassion, Kindness, Joy, Happiness

Know someone long enough and you’ll be able to tell the person’s different types of laughter.

There’s the genuine jolly kind, there’s the fake polite kind, there’s the gentle kind, the uncontrollable tears kind and perhaps a few more kinds only you can identify.

Even if you don’t know a person well enough, you can tell.

You can feel it — when someone laughs with lighthearted joy.

It’s soft and fluffy.

It’s the layer of foam on top of your latte.

It’s the cloud drifting above your head.

The cotton candy melting softly on your tongue.

Have you ever heard a baby laugh?

109 million views.

There must have been a reason why so many of us are attracted to that delightful sound, right?

I love it.

I absolutely love the sound of laughter.

Which is why I developed a goofy personality.

My silly self. ©️Agnes Louis

People have questioned my silliness as I grew older.

They don’t understand why I love being silly at times.

I’m addicted to that pleasant sound — the sound of laughter echoing inside my head.

It makes me laugh too.

It lifts my spirit.

That sound carries me like a cloud. A sense of lightness, of peace. It envelops my whole being I feel like floating an inch above the floor, my heart is so full I feel like it’s going to explode in colours.

Am I weird? Is this weird?

I love the sound of laughter.

I have loved it since I cracked my first joke, since my first accidental slapstick.

I love it when I am the reason behind that heavenly sound.

Watching the world these days, I can’t help but wonder.

Why?

Why do many of us like to tear apart something beautiful, something whole? Why do many of us love to create petty grievances out of thin air?

We are so tiny in the scheme of things in the Universe.

There’s so much space.

There’s enough to house everyone.

Enough for everyone to share.

Why fight?

Why kill?

What? To take something already owned? To make more space? What?

What is it?

I don’t understand.

Why silence the pleasant ring of a laughter?

What for?

Am I weird, liking the sound of laughter?

Those who order, who call upon wars, fighting to the last man standing, do they not like the sound of pure joy?

Why oh why?
Being Good News
By: Ani Vidrine
Tags: Compassion, Christianity, Advent, Love, Hope

Being Good News

photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash.com

Love, may we be someone’s good news today!

Dear One,

I am writing to remind you of things you already know. There is always good news in Love. When you take your eyes off of the perceived problem and focus on Love, you gain clarity of vision. Dwelling on painful issues doesn’t solve them, it only intensifies their influence. If you obsess on the storm, you will get swept away by the relentless waves.

Blessed Jesus preached a message of peace. He was empowered by Love and went about doing good and healing the oppressed, for Love was with him.

What is your intention for today? Release the commentary of your misery, and join the work of Jesus, doing good and offering the healing balm of compassion to those who are oppressed. The good news is that Love is with you, too, empowering you to be a messenger of peace. Your own healing comes as you allow yourself to be a conduit for good.

Remember, this moment is an opportunity to connect to Love, and therefore, to live into the fullness of who you are.

As always, do what best awakens you to love,

Your Inner Wisdom
Transform the Trickster
By: Bybreen Samuels
Tags: Astrology, Communication, Compassion, Healing, Creativity

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE — DECEMBER 12th 2020

The Sun in Sagittarius is expanding its reach now that it’s separating from the square to Neptune. You should see clearly now that you have moved past any distorted perceptions of reality. However, as you continue to sore, keep an eye on your thoughts as Mercury replaces the Sun’s position.

The conversation it has with Neptune can be opaque because your thoughts are jumbled or too abstract. Alternatively, you are on the seesaw of misleading others or being misled by them. In Greek mythology, the archetype for Mercury, is Hermes. Trickery formed part of his character. So you get to choose whether or not, you speak with forked tongue and behave in cunning ways.

If you act with integrity then the conjunction between Venus and the Moon will help you. These feminine planets are immersed in Scorpio and they have the potential to act as your moral compass. They are pulling up buried emotions to the surface that can be transformed into treasures. Given that they merge beautifully with Neptune in Pisces, your healing experience could be deeply nourishing.

This trinity of planets open up your imagination and you are flooded with creative ideas. Document them through writing, painting, sculping, music or whatever medium catches your attention. The world needs more compassion and connection, so what you produce could well be the elixir.
There is an Alternative to Freaking Out
By: Dave Mochel
Tags: Real Happiness, Compassion, Stress And Anxiety, Mindfulness, Acceptance

Dear Friends,

This week, in the middle of a zoom presentation to a group of faculty on the other side of the country, my computer froze. Like arctic freeze — no amount of button pushing appeared to dampen the determination of the spinning rainbow wheel of death.

The only fix left was to force my computer to restart.

This was the highlight of my week. I don’t mean that sarcastically — it really was the highlight of my week.

This is because I did not freak out. Just to be clear — I definitely didn’t want this to be happening, but I did not freak out. I called the host and told him that I would be back on as soon as I could, and then I sat and breathed low and slow while my computer did what it needed to do. I even laughed as I thought of “the spinning wheel of breath.”

It was a moment to reflect on how I used to flip out and lash out about the littlest thing. It was a moment to really appreciate the effect that practicing mindfulness has had on my life.

I am sure that I am not done with freak outs, but it is nice to know that acceptance is more accessible than it used to be.

You, me, us — we are all going to experience feelings. Some of them are comfortable and some of them are uncomfortable. We are going to be faced with unwanted circumstances. No amount of good fortune or good behavior is ever going to change this reality of the human condition.

No matter what we do, who we are, how hard we work, or how others feel about us, we are going to experience loss, gain, love, heartbreak, satisfaction, resentment, pain and joy.

It turns out that no matter what we do, human life is both challenging and miraculous. We cannot escape the stuff that is hard without cutting ourselves off from the stuff that is beautiful. It is one of the great truths of the human condition.

And, we can live peacefully and powerfully with this truth. With practice, we can expand our acceptance until it contains everything. We can respond to whatever shows up with love and courage. We can learn to trust deeply in ourselves and in the incomprehensible wisdom of the universe. We can connect with each other and support each other.

So we got that going for us, which is nice.
Small Acts of Kindness
By: Ahmad Faraz
Tags: Compassion, Happiness, Softness, Truthfulness, Kindess

PRODUCTIVE DEBATE WITH SIBLINGS

There is no better thing than to have a productive debate with siblings. whenever I came home. It’s like a routine of mine to hear every single argument of my bros on politics and current affairs. Sometimes, I feel that they have more knowledge than our so-called politicians. I think they are opinion makers of our family. I feel proud of having them in my life. I think one of the purest love is the love between the siblings.

VISITING GRANDMA’S HOME

it’s always fascinating for me whenever I visited my grandma’s home. But last time, when I visited her home the health of her was not really good. She was lying in bed. when she heard my voice, she looked at me with his bluer eyes and speak my name with his shuddering voice, she was really happy to see me. I have an in-depth bond with her. I think she was the most exciting, noble, and kind woman I have ever met with. May Allah give her the highest rank in Jannah.

Start kindness today and make someone’s day better.
Kindness
By: Dure Maknoon Razia
Tags: Compassion, Care, Kindness, Understanding, Helping Others

Being friendly, considerate, and generous is known as kindness. Words relevant with kindness are concern, warmth, care and gentleness. Kindness means doesn’t weak, because kindness often requires courage with strength.Saba Gul said, “in order to solve big mysteries of the world, intellect is not enough, you also need compassion”

With only intellect, you will hop not walk. To walk properly on both legs, compassion, and intellect, must be hand in hand.

My act of kindness with family, fellows, and neighbors are given as:

I help my mom in the kitchen, also in other household activities.

I also help my friends with their assignments and subjects.

I also help my younger brothers and sisters with their homework.

And many such activities. I always try to help, how much I can. It’s the blessing of Allah that you have such emotions.

Move forward and help people in your surrounding.
Little tales of compassion
By: Aisha Kanwal
Tags: Challenge, Kindness, Compassion

So what is compassion? isn’t it something that’s already rooted in some people while others don’t share the same gift.. Well that’s not true, I recently learned through an engaging course that kindness can be practiced by everyone while it’s true that some people have humbleness in their nature, and like a skill rest of the people has to learn to developed it with time and patience.

Compassion in my opinion is something that the more we try to give to the people around us, the more it blends in our nature. Having compassion and behaving with kindness not only makes ones exterior stands out but it also beautifies ones soul.

Compassion blooms flowers in heart

So I have been tasked to do 5 random acts of kindness within 24 hours, by Amal Academy and to blog about it with adding the pictures of those moments. so here it is:

Memories of the old gold time:

I had a lot of work to do today, but when I saw the little old album of my mom’s college in my drawer, I rushed into her room to showed her that and I sat with her admiring those pictures while the smile on her face grew deeper and deeper as she turned each picture, remembering her golden days.

My mom and her friends in NRC training

Two cups of serious talks:

This evening, I noticed our house helper was kind of low while cleaning the kitchen, so I decided to have of tea with her today instead of having it with while working on a project. After prayer we sat together and just randomly talk about life for a while, where she taught me with talks about the nature of life that time never stays the same, some days you have everything and other days you are left with nothing but what’s really inside of your heart.

Our almost cold chai

Evening bliss:

I love to just stand in the balcony in evenings, the serenity in the winds and peace in nature captures me all the time. The next balcony to mine, there’s usually birds feeding from the feeder they have attached on the grills but today for some reason they didn’t put the food for birds in the feeder, so seeing the birds coming and flying away without eating, I put some bread pieces on the grills and left, all the pieces were gone when I returned after sometime.

Captured before putting the bread pieces

Kindness filled breads:

My younger sister loves baking and what she makes is sometimes the yummiest food we’ve ever had and sometimes after hours in kitchen we have burned pots and plates, but in good or worst, she turns the kitchen upside down and I always scold her for that but today I decided to demonstrate her, how to efficiently cook and clean the mess hand in hand.

kindness stuffed breads

Encourage smiles:

One of my other younger sister, who these day is learning to sketch and shade and I felt today that I due to my busyness. not giving anyone proper time so I thought to actually see her sketch book today and to my delight, she is getting really good at this, I tried to encourage her and she was happy with me finally giving time to check her hard work.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Saintliness (Part 3)
By: Param Shanti
Tags: Collaboration, Life Lessons, Compassion, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Love

Love for the Ailing and Poor

Pramukh Swami Maharaj had arrived in Sankari, a remote village in south Gujarat. He was scheduled to stay there for two to three days. Swamishri reminded kothari Prabhuswarup Swami that he wished to bless the ailing Lallu, a servant of Somabhai.

But who was Lallu and what was so special about him? Lallu belonged to a backward tribal sub-caste. He was very poor and worked as a serv­ant for many years at Somabhai’s house. Whenever Swamishri came to Sankari Lallu always came for darshan and served in whatever way he could. Swamishri always blessed him lovingly.

This morning Swamishri remembered him and expressed his wish to see him. But Swamishri’s schedule for the day was very tight. A large num­ber of devotees from the Surat district had come to meet him. In addition, devotees were waiting for him to bless the satsang assembly. After the dis­course he had to meet thousands of devotees while they filed past him. In spite of all this, Swamishri took some time out and went to Somabhai’s house. Youth volunteers had brought Lallu to Somabhai’s house. Swamishri came to him while he was lying awake in bed. He had become emaciated because of diabetes. Lallu could barely raise and fold his palms in respect. Swamishri placed his hand on Lallu’s head and body and praised him, “Lallu, you have served Thakorji, the mandir and sadhus well. God will shower his grace upon you. Do bhajan by saying ‘Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan’. Maharaj will liberate you and take you to Akshardham. Do not think otherwise. Remember Maharaj and be happy.” Then Swamishri garlanded him. Lallu broke down and with folded palms prayed, “Bapa, Bapa.” He felt his life to be worthwhile and blessed because Swamishri himself had come to bless him in his final hour.

Swamishri graced Lallu, and as he was leav­ing Somabhai’s house Lallu heard Swamishri tell Prabhuswarup Swami, “Take care of Lallu. He has no one other than us.” At that time Lallu whis­pered, “Swami, you have considered me to be yours. Now it matters not if I have no one else!”

A few days later, after Swamishri had left Sankari, Lallu passed away. He attained Akshardham through his seva and the abundant grace of Swamishri.
Blue Suede Moon
By: Marijke Mccandless
Tags: Addiction, Compassion, Poetry, Seduction, Love

Blue Suede Moon

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

Can you imagine the seduction of a blue suede moon?

pussycat feel

dark surrender,

howling within

Come to me, it will call

Come to me

I’ll rub my brushed sweetness over your body

I’ll calm your soul, she’ll whisper

Oh that blue suede moon,

So fine

So real

A seductress

A lover

At night when dark falls

When you’re alone

Watch out for the

Blue Suede Moon

She calls to you

I can help that blue suede moon,

you think

And she can help me

Oh moon of mine

Oh special moon

This chance comes but once

in a blue suede moon

How often is that? you ask

Not very

But its power is great

That blue suede moon owns your soul for a time

Wraps you in her nectar

But leaves your soul

in black velvet anguish

powerless to the tides of angst

Oh goddess save me from the seduction of that blue suede moon

I can’t save you

I can only catch you when you fall

The rest is up to you

Are you a captive of that blue suede moon?
I HATE WEAK PEOPLE.
By: Bebe Frédéric
Tags: Personal Growth, Bebetter, Personal Development, Compassion, Live And Learn

I HATE WEAK PEOPLE.

Whooaa!Hate is such a strong word.

Hey Toyo,

I hate people who portray part of my traits on television.

Does that make sense?

What does Carl Jung,Friedrich Nietzsche or Sigmund Freud say about that?

Everything that irritates us about others may lead us to an understanding of ourselves — Carl Jung.

I am watching a South-Korean drama called Penthouses: War in Life.

Oh Yoon-he. A charismatic opera singer versus Cheon Seo-jin charismatic but not as talented blessed with powerful,rich parents. Competition and jealousy dominate and the rich girl wins. What does the poor girl do? Goes to confront the rich girl and things go south from there. The poor girl looses her boyfriend and status as the best opera singer to the rich girl. She walks with a chip on her shoulder blaming the rich girl for the nest ten plus years.

Oh Se Yeon is highly emotional and very volatile. Acts before thinking and has also pulled her daughter into the web of her war with Seo Ye Jin.

Everytime I saw her doing things without thinking and reacting to things and showing weakness I would get mad. I would ask myself,”Why doesn’t she learn? Why is she so weak?”

I figured out that maybe,just maybe I hated (hate is such a strong word)her because I could see myself in her. Oh Se Yeon is a character but I am real life. I was reminded of how weak I was or was it maybe I am just human?

I read a post on instagram that said” never let them see you sweat.” Who is they anyway? Who is it really?

Is it my own personal demons or is it people who don’t believe I can do what I say I can?Who is it really?

Do I project my own personal feels unto others?I am volatile, say what I feel and cannot restrain my anger or hurt. I have uttered words that even today I cringe when I think about it.

Whether it is after a minute or after one week or ten years,regret is just that REGRET- It is a character in one of the South-Korean dramas.

Responding vs reacting. Why do some people remain so calm under so much pressure,scrutiny or criticism? What sets them apart?

As I have recently discovered most people who remain calm under pressure usually :

1. know when to speak and when not to.

2.Pick their battles wisely. They are of live today to fight another day.

3. They know what to say and what not to say to get what they want

4.They are highly emotionally intelligent. They are not controlled by their emotions.

5. They are tactful.

Lastly they know how to control their tone. As I came to discover,even the tone matters.

I keep on learning day by day. I have said things which were ot supposed to see the light of day to the wrong people.

I have delivered mesages with poor tact.

There are always consequences but one lives and learns.

Love to hear from.you Toyo

Love,

S.
Human Rights Day 2020: Significance and Inspirational Quotes
By: Bernadette Mills
Tags: Compassion, Inspiration, Amit Ray, Human Rights, United Nations

Human Rights Day 2020: It is observed on 10 December globally. The day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers us all. There are 195 sovereign states as part of the UN.

Let us have a look at the significance of the day in this crisis moment of the humanity and some inspirational quotes from greatest leaders of the world.

“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” — Nelson Mandela

“Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.” — 14th Dalai Lama

“We declare that human rights are for all of us, all the time: whoever we are and wherever we are from; no matter our class, our opinions, our sexual orientation.” — Ban Ki-moon

“Joy is found when you focus your energy on improving human dignity, human capacity and human values.” — Amit Ray

“A right delayed is a right denied.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that create huge inequalities.”- Pope Francis

“It is the purpose of government to see that not only the legitimate interests of the few are protected but that the welfare and rights of the many are conserved.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Bringing human rights home is at the core of UNESCO’s mission in all its fields of competence — education, science, culture and communication. Human Rights are driven by progress of all. Our aim is for recovering better and fostering more resilient and just societies.
Overwhelmed With Compassion
By: 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘊.
Tags: Short Story, Compassion, Prompted, Energy, Writing

Today I am overwhelmed, but not with doubts, nor with fears. I am overwhelmed with compassion for those who do everything in their power to better themselves, everyday. Who take no days off from allowing growth to happen through the situations they confront and the people put in their path.

Truth be told (and please, excuse my language) this shit is hard. Our plate is full of responsibilities that come with adulthood, be them financial or personal. On top of that, we’re bombarded with information every millisecond of the day and our minds are overly stimulated.

As if that isn’t enough, we all carry emotional baggage from the past that makes us highly sensitive and self defensive. Some of us may even (consciously or unconciously) absorb other people’s emotions like sponges, adding to our internal turmoil. No matter how positively we generally view life, we ought to admit that sometimes it all seems downright chaotic!

Therefore, all my compassion goes out to you. Pat yourself on the back for being so committed to evolution and for being so damn resilient. Your struggles are heard, your hurts are felt. Your voice, although shaky at times, is listened to in a loving and understanding way.

Virtual hugs to you.