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Category Archives: Compassion
Where Decency Thrives and Compassion Flourishes
A friend left a comment here recently, suggesting that some countries’ cultures have a gentler view of the world than ours. That is so true. Our culture evolved from hard-nosed individualism, shedding compassion along the way as if the desire … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Health, Kindness, Philosophy, Selfishness
1 Comment
Fiction and Reality, One and the Same
There was a time, not so long ago, that I found it easy to write about fictional dystopian horrors, experiences unlike anything I ever experienced. My imagination allowed me to picture those ghastly nightmares as a dispassionate observer, watching through … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Covid-19, Empathy, Writing
2 Comments
Mediterranean Course Correction
I inquired of Google this morning: “What is the Mediterranean lifestyle?” The first answer I found—and the one I intend on adapting as my own—was this, from a blog entitled, The Mediterranean Dish in a post labeled Live the Mediterranean … Continue reading
Posted in Change, Compassion, Doing Without, Empathy, Essay, Generosity, Philosophy, Ruminations, Self-discipline, Selfishness
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Recalling Darkness
Two years ago today, I wrote a post on Facebook that, in both immediate and distant hindsight, I realize did not belong on Facebook. But at least Facebook reminded me it is still there. It may not have belonged anywhere. … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Depression
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Be Kind
I posted a good bit of this yesterday on Facebook. I’m posting it here because I want to be able to find it again; to use it as a reminder to try to be better. Yesterday, I expressed anger at … Continue reading
Posted in Anger, Compassion, Kindness
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Practical Compassion
An occasional “feel-good” story can go considerable distance toward restoring one’s faith in humanity, if only briefly. One I read about a day or two ago helped reduce the span between despair and hope. I don’t recall all the details, … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion
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The Child Who Is Not Embraced by the Village…
I have seen this proverb before but, for some reason, the depth of its meaning did not reach me until I saw it yesterday. Yesterday, its truth became so obvious to me that I slapped my forehead with the palm … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion
2 Comments
Too Tired to Care?
I read an online article from Maclean’s Magazine (a left-center leaning Canadian news magazine) yesterday that moved me to rage. The article dealt with a decision by a local police department to issue an “Amber Alert” in the middle of … Continue reading
Posted in Anger, Compassion
5 Comments
Real Life Lessons
Let me be unkind for a moment, if you don’t mind. I feel like expressing my perceptions of a guy with whom I’ve shared space in the waiting room while lingering in anticipation of my radiation therapy. Don’t assume I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Cancer, Civility, Compassion, Empathy, Health
4 Comments
The Fundamental Goodness of Humankind
It didn’t take long yesterday for the friendship and generosity within the “tribe” to which I attach myself to spill over into the wider world. I wrote that I had promised someone I would give him a ride to and … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Empathy
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Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep
Several weeks ago, I assured someone I would be happy to take him to doctor visits and other medical appointments when he needed me to do it. Last evening, I received an email from him, asking me to help him … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Empathy
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Filtered News and Compartmentalized Compassion
The horrific, deadly flooding in Japan, not widely reported in Western media yet (it seems to me), is a nightmare of epic proportions. Two million people have been ordered to evacuate in western Japan. Hiroshima has been hit hard by … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Rant
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Self Compassion
I’ve often been accused of being harsh with people who don’t meet my expectations and demands. Those accusations are almost always correct and my harshness is almost always more severe than the “infraction” deserves. The punishment I mete out is … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion
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Venezuelans and Their Food
Earlier today, an article on the National Public Radio website about a food common in Venezuela, called arepas, launched my exploration of the dish. Several recipes later, my interest grew beyond food as I became increasingly intrigued about the current state of … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Food, Justice, Politics
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Ethiopian Food and Human Decency
I’ve discovered that my wife and I are not the only people around Hot Springs who enjoy Ethiopian food. Recently, I posted a query, to a Facebook group dedicated to Hot Springs area restaurant reviews, about whether my unsuccessful efforts to find … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Food, Philosophy, Politics, Serenity, Stereotypes
2 Comments
Renaissance
The opportunity exists, in the midst of a Trump-incited plunge toward base vulgarity, for a renaissance of decency and decorum. The opportunity exists for a return to standards of behavior that value humanity and compassion. Key to seizing that opportunity is … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Hope, Philosophy, Wisdom
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Reflecting on What’s to Come
Let me preface my comments with these words: I absolutely despise Donald Trump; I believe he is a despicable human being whose rise to the Presidency cannot be explained entirely with logic. How a madman with the capacity to undermine … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Compassion, Education, Empathy, Philosophy, Politics, Wisdom
2 Comments
Assigning Worth
It seems to me that people who need help to escape poverty generally do not need, nor want, handouts. They need a break. They need a chance to demonstrate their worth in a world in which value is too often measured … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Empathy, Philosophy, Poverty
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BIG Ideas
The perception of technological advances allowing customers to check out their own groceries differs radically, depending on one’s perspective. From the viewpoint of the grocer, investing in such technology means an investment in profitability or, indeed, economic survival. But store … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Economics, Intellect, Philosophy, Politics, Secular morality
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Trapped in a Mine
Today, while looking through old notebooks, I came across a note I wrote six years ago. Late in the evening of October 12, 2010. The note, dated October 12, 2010 and marked with the time I wrote it 10:28 p.m. read, … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Emotion, Memories
2 Comments
Shades of Gray
I woke up to face a reality I did not expect to endure. It’s a reality that never occurred to me, really. A reality that suggests I may be out of touch with reality in some fundamental ways; ways that … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Emotion, Friendship
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Transforming Hardship
This Playing for Change piece is wonderful. Watch and listen; I think you’ll agree. Though all of the musicians are incredible, I especially love Aymee Noviola. Her eyes (about minute 5:14) struck me; she embodies happiness and pure joy, as … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Music
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What Are We—What Am I—Going to Do About This?
Chance encounters sometimes lead one to think about things that might rarely bubble to the surface of consciousness were it not for prompting by that meeting. Yesterday was one such occasion. While attending a Garvan Gardens workshop entitled Cooking with Fresh Herbs: … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Empathy, Justice, Philosophy
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Cynic
It is easy to wrap oneself in the red and blue ribbons around the neck of the winner. Adorning oneself with gold and silver and bronze pennants proclaims superiority on the scale of human accomplishment. But it’s all a show. It’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Emotion, Philosophy
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Life of the Party
Some people thrive on their reputations, crafted with meticulous care. They seem to believe their own hype, buying into the stories they tell others in their efforts to be more vibrant, more alive, more interesting. I know this because I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, Depression, Empathy
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