One Kind Word

"As I get older, the more I stay focused on the acceptance of myself and others and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear." Tracee Ellis Ross
I encourage people to ask themselves the questions, "What would it take to accept myself right now, just as I am? " and "What would it take to accept someone else right now, just as they are? " Acceptance eliminates fear and the need for comparison.  Promoting the idea that 'I am enough, just as I am, removes barriers and creates an opportunity for connection. One Kind Word is medicine for the body and soul.

"Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion." the fourteenth Dalai Lama.
Human spirituality, a shared collection of principles for all sentient beings, is absent of religious dogma. It does not require genuflection or donations. It does require human DNA. It does not assign others to ranks of good, better, best, or worst. Instead, it values others equally without conditions. It does not allow some to starve while others overindulge. Human spirituality begins at the place where kindness rules and compassion lives.

"Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom." Rumi
Grief arises as a result of change, a child of uncertainty, which is the nature of our existence. Grief is relative to the level of loss experienced through change. Small losses can result from slight variations in expectations, like being out of maple syrup with French Toast. Great loss happens when it involves something or someone we love.  There is a hidden gift in a significant loss. We can realize the magnitude of others suffering through our own. Then compassion is born.

"Human it is to have compassion on the unhappy." Giovanni Boccaccio
There is pervasive unhappiness in the world simply because we are confused about what makes happiness last. The poor man believes bread, water, and education will make him happy until he discovers it is a fundamental human right. The successful man thinks money and fame will bring happiness until he finds that it is a fleeting illusion. The enlightened man has compassion for the poor and successful man because he understands that lasting happiness comes from overcoming obstacles that make us seem separate and keep us apart. One Kind Word can bring lasting happiness.