Jennifer Emmons is by all measures a humble, modern-day hero. She is a Registered Nurse and the Executive Director of Hospeace House. This not-for-profit volunteer-driven hospice does not charge residents or their families or receive insurance reimbursement. Emmons discovered her calling in 1997 when first introduced to the hospice philosophy as a Home Health Aide.  The depth of her passion became evident when she courageously spent 12 weeks in the NY Metropolitan area assisting those dying alone from Covid-19 during the height of the pandemic. Jennifer was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation in 2021.

MON 12-6 "Many of us think that Compassion drains us, but I promise you it is something that truly enlivens us." Joan Halifax

As with all things, Compassion has a shadow. And that shadow does indeed drain us, especially when we exhaust ourselves from helping others, and there's nothing left for ourselves.  This shadow shows up when we expect a return on our investment.  It works well in business exchange but not concerning the social capital of relationships. And it does not reflect genuine Compassion. Self-care and self-management are essential elements for cultivating genuine Compassion. When we have enough reserve to give without expectations, genuine Compassion is at play.

Wars begin in the minds of men, and in those minds, love and compassion would have built the defenses of peace. U Than
What we dwell upon plays out in our imagination. If we dwell on fear, betrayal, and hatred, our imagination builds a fort around us in the darkness. By the time we take action, the dwelling and imaginings have already had their way. Defensive destruction manifests in the fields of our imaginings. In contrast, if we dwell on the principles of kindness and compassion, our imaginings will create a world of beauty, goodness, and peace.

Jade Simmons is a creator of transformational experiences designed to activate audiences into becoming the biggest, boldest version of themselves possible. The world-class concert artist is also the CEO of Jade Media Global, a revolutionary live experience and global content distribution company specializing in 360º personal development and strategic transformation.

 "Our lack of forgiveness makes us hate, and our lack of compassion makes us hard-hearted. Pride in our hearts makes us resentful and keeps our memory in a constant whirlwind of passion and self-pity." Mother Angelica
Forgiveness is one of the most challenging compassion practices. We hold onto the 'shield of resentment' as if we remain under full attack.  Instead, let go of the hurt and protect yourself through the wisdom of trust. We can learn to what degree we can trust another and then limit the nature of our future interactions. In other words, we can set boundaries. Then, the energy discharged from releasing our bitterness sets us free.

 "We need the compassion and the courage to change the conditions that support our suffering. Those conditions are things like ignorance, bitterness, negligence, clinging, and holding on." Sharon Salzberg
Not all but some of our world society maintains that suffering. Many of these conditions are in the hands of our world leaders. These needed changes reflect fundamental human rights to things like education, good food, and water, as well as a trauma-free childhood. In affluent countries, individuals often possess opportunities to improve these conditions independently. These individuals can pursue personal development and healing through self-help, recovery programs, therapy, and life coaching, to name a few. One Kind Word is a fundamental human right.