The cookies are cooling on the counter, the tree is lit and the presents are almost all wrapped & it seemed fitting to search for a gift for all of you who read this blog. But how was I supposed to do that? And then I found it…
So, in honour of this season of Peace On Earth and Goodwill Toward All I have posted this video for your enjoyment.
I love this idea of agreeing to a Charter for Compassion. I have joined and hope you will too.
This interview is also wonderful (I’ve linked it here) where Karen Armstrong talks of how she practiced being compassionate because “…I used to be a very unkind person because I was so unhappy. Someone once actually told me, “You rarely say anything nice about anybody.” I have a very sharp tongue, I’m very impatient, and it’s a lifelong struggle. But I’ve become very sensitive to uncompassionate speech – even just among friends in social conversation, never mind on the international scale. And I really find it very difficult to value any ideology that can’t be expressed compassionately with respect to other people.
But it’s a lifelong struggle –- we fail every day. Thus, Confucius said, “The struggle ends with death,” but that it can be rewarding. I found that since I’ve been trying to be more compassionate, I’ve been happier. ”
What a lovely goal for our lives.
And so my gift to you is a sincere wish for a wonderfully compassionate Christmas; compassion for yourself and for others.
– sent from my house to yours – with love.
Thanks Colleen for that wonderful insight. Wish I had something inspirational to give you but I’m suffering with a miserable cold and my head is in a fog. We’ve just returned from Whistler and plan to go back on the 28th for New Year’s. Christine is coming for dinner so it will be very low key this year as I don’t want to share this bug.
Maybe that’s it Colleen. I always question my happiness, like why am I SO happy? Well, I have so much compassion for others I have to try and conceal it at times for fear of annoying people. Hmmm I’m not bragging, just interested. Merry Christmas. Just getting ready to feast at my daughters, boyfriends, step mothers house for a Brazilian Christmas.
Well there ya go! Another mystery solved 🙂 Seriously, I think you’re on to something and as Karen Armstrong is considered one of the (if not THE) world’s experts on religion, I think she’s a good voice to trust on the subject. Have a fun Brazilian Christmas!