Rather than think about who you didn’t have in your life, think about who you could be in someone else’s life.
There is a particularly strong opportunity for this in the spaces where you were hurt the most by the people who you wish were there the most.
Why? Because you know just how much it hurts.
And there are plenty of people out there who are hurting just as much—if not more—from a similar type of absence.
And, just think, you could be the one who fills that void.
We need to see the suffering in the world so that we can respond with compassion.
As in, we can’t turn a blind eye; we can’t hide in our cocoons of comfort; we can’t ignore our calls for humanity.
I reiterate: we need to see the suffering.
Otherwise, there will be no emotional reason for us to have any kind of response.
Emotion is triggered through experience. The closer the experience, the deeper the emotional feel. And the deeper the emotional feel, the more compassionate the response (I would hope).
We need to be the compassion for others that we so desperately wish was there for us (and our loved ones) when we were suffering.
And if you and your loved ones haven’t suffered all that much, then you are exactly the type of person who can stand to help others the most.
Open your eyes up to the world around you.
And respond with compassion.
Where’s the best place to make a pond ripple?
Answer: there isn’t one.
Where’s the best place to make a difference?
Answer: there isn’t one.
Right where you are is as good as any.
Just start turning your ideas into actions and toss them into the pond.
The ripples will follow.
Every act of creation
adds a drop to the tide
every compliment made from nothing
every thank you properly shared
every smile gifted to another
every work of art created with care
every loving embrace
every bridge made from here and there
adds a drop to the tide
that lifted us from down there
Every act of destruction
takes from the tide
every comparison made
every expectation shared
every frown imposed upon another
every opportunity for work, done without care
every embrace avoided
every bridge burned leaving some here, some there
takes from the tide
that lowered us from up there
From nothing to something
we are the creators of tide
From something back to nothing
oh, don’t you damn hide
It’s you and it’s me and it’s all of us together
creating and destroying
lifting and lowering
caring and not caring
that results in the tide that we
like it or not
all have to share