Compassion is the working side of love. It is the reaching out and touching back of one soul to another. It is the acknowledgement and true understanding that we are all in this together. That we all matter and that we all need the same things–to be loved, to love, to know that we count and that our having lived is noted.
But in our modern 24/7 living with its “instant pudding” communication and information overload, this connecting of “me with thee” is often discounted and undervalued. We have forgotten or truly never understood that the essence and heart of living is found in the true sharing of our gut-level “self” with another’s gut-level “self.”
Our isolated, air-conditioned and compartmentalized days keep us running hither and yon eager to get the day’s duties done. We put one project to bed and open the file for the next event or “must do” as we hurry and scurry through the moments and hours. We do not see nor do we realize how much of the “oomph” and grit is lost as we let opportunities to really connect with others wash unnoticed down the gullies of side streets we blithely pass without a second glance
Compassion is listening and truly hearing what another has to say. It is a pausing and a slowing down to see the person beside us–to notice that they are there and that they matter, that they count. Compassion is an understanding nod, a smiley-eyed “Hello.” Compassion is looking at another with warmth and an open heart.Compassion is the understanding that we are all on the same journey and we are not alone.
But to do this reaching out means we have to be ready for the touching back. And this openness, this vulnerability to be “touched” by another can be a very scary deal. Do we really want another to see that “me” that shows up at 2:00 a.m.? You know that insecure “me” or the frightened “me” that we shove back in the corner when the alarm goes off at 7:00 a.m.? But guess what? Once shared, that fear or insecurity often vanishes as someone nods and says, “Gee, I know just how you feel.”
With practice compassion becomes second nature and we become so much more–more open and even, more aware and delighted in life. There is more depth and breadth and meaning to the days of our daily living. The joy of another becomes our joy. The sorrow of a neighbor can be felt and held in our hand with dignity and grace, for we have our own sorrows to share. Laughing voices heard as we walk the dog can bring a twitch-lipped snort of “Yeah, me too!”
Compassion is the working side of love. And compassion for ourselves–a reaching out and a touching back of us to ourselves–is a very, very good place to start.
Tags: Age and change, Age and not giving a damn, age gracefully
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 at 12:15 pm and is filed under IOA Stories, Newsletter, Robin's Insights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
