One Kind Word

"I'm no expert standing at a podium giving speeches. I share heartbeats. Compassion." Elizabeth Berkley
For those who speak for others, we must synchronize our hearts with many. To bring meaningful words into being,  we empathize when possible, and when not possible, we practice compassion even for those we cannot understand. Empathy requires a shared experience which is not always possible. Compassion is made universal by wishing the best for people we have never met, and even for those, we may find unsavory. One Kind Word enhances communication by sharing heartbeats. 

"I think technology really increased human ability. But technology cannot produce compassion." The 14th Dalai Lama
I used to consider technology important for technology's sake. In other words, I felt any new and exciting gizmo was good. I think this confusion is not uncommon. The pristine, dazzling beauty of technology can be seductive. That belief was like a love affair that happens before you get to know someone. Nowadays, my bias has pivoted considerably toward people being more important than technology. When we understand the importance of human connection, everything changes. Compassion is unique to the organic human machine.

"This idea of bringing awareness to our lives seems like a good idea, right? We'll gain a productive, enjoyable, reflective life and be able to extend compassion, empathy, and joy to others. That seems like a pretty good deal." Tara Stiles
Awareness is highly underrated. 'Awareness of what?' you may ask. Awareness of the importance of other people. Awareness of myself and my opportunities to grow. Awareness of others and the challenges they are facing. Those awarenesses constitute the hidden elements of a more productive, enjoyable, reflective life. And they make it possible to participate in genuine compassion and empathy. Awareness is one main secret to helping others be more joyful while helping ourselves be more joyful too!

“The dew of compassion is a tear.” Lord Byron
For me, the dew is such a powerful ever-present metaphor. It can represent natural beauty, new beginnings, or the transient beauty of each moment, to name a few. When we understand that compassion is like dew in many ways, we see the natural beauty of harmonic relationships, the ability to start over in every moment with a kinder-gentler pathway, and the fleeting grandeur of our life. The dew-like tears of compassion enable us to witness beauty, become better people, and relish precious moments shared with loved ones.

 “Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” Albert Einstein
I often wonder what worldview would support embracing all living creatures with compassion. And I hope with all my heart and all of my soul that human beings are capable of that massive worldview. I believe we can expand our worldview because we could lose it all without its realization. Also, I think we would all be much happier to live in a world where that broad perspective is commonplace. One Kind Word promotes a peaceful world.

"The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another." Thomas Merton
Interdependence arises from the discernment of an enlightened mind. That beautiful mind sees a world where we are all related; we are all cousins. Through the butterfly effect, what happens to the least of us also happens to each of us.  We are inextricably linked to all beings. But we believe these links do not exist because we cannot yet perceive them. If we could but catch a glimpse of those connections, how the world might change for the better.