LIVING LIFE WITH MORE COMPASSION

How often do we see someone who we think has a perfect life? Have you said to yourself, "I wish I had her life", or "how come she gets everything she wants"? Often we feel angry when we think of what we consider the inequities of life, but how much more simple and serene life would be if we treated everyone with compassion.

In reality no one has a perfect life. Everyone encounters difficulties in their lives, and we often don't know what challenges others are facing.

I believe everyone is born with an innate desire to be happy, but for most of us life deals us blows that eat away at our happiness and lead us to act in ways that are less than acceptable at times. It is easy to judge people from a perspective of anger, hate, or envy, but we also have the ability to change our reactions to love and compassion.

I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to jumping to conclusions about the kinds of lives others live, so I have vowed to work harder at treating everyone I meet with more love, patience, tolerance, and care.

Think what a wonderful world it would be if we all treated each other with compassion.

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P.S. This is part of the Rewriting Life series. Read more here.
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Comments

Lori ESeptember 14, 2015 at 8:42 PM
Many, many years ago I would walk my son to school, pushing his baby brother in a stroller. I had chosen to be a stay at home mom but would cringe with jealousy when I passed a particular home. Not because of the house which was modest but because the woman would be getting into her car with a leather briefcase in hand, dressed in a great suit. I longed to be her, going off to work in an obvious power position. Her husband would hop into his car with his personalized plates and leave too.
Later that year her husband was killed on a weekend motorcycle ride and I never wanted to change places with her again. I learned that day that no matter how good things look you never know either what is behind the doors or what is coming down the road. It could be ill health, divorce, death, alcoholism or drug addiction.
I now correct my course whenever I start to envy someone else.
SusanSeptember 14, 2015 at 9:37 PM
So true, Laura. Compassion is a gift and not many people have it. I try very hard to be compassionate. Sometimes, however, I lack it. We never ever know what is in the heart of another person nor do we know what that person has suffered.Good reminder to have more compassion. Susan
Linda @ Itsy Bits And PiecesSeptember 14, 2015 at 11:30 PM
I know that the hard things I have gone through in life, have made me a much more compassionate person. I feel like I have been given a gift through the times that were the worst. Everyone will go through hard times, sadness, and suffering...we just need to give each other a break...
RURAL September 15, 2015 at 4:39 PM
Such beautiful and true words Laura.

I do wish that there was a bit more compassion in those who just don't seem to care, but maybe there is enough in those who do to cover everyone. I can dream, and hope that it is so, right?

Jen
Deb @ Frugal Little BungalowSeptember 15, 2015 at 5:54 PM
For the most part we often assume others have it better. Story for you : Middle son...two or three other boys on our street, growing up together. All in football and other sports together. My marriage was very troubled. I assumed the other happy couples were happier, of course. One of them was...that ideal where they met in high school and were best friends / lovers for all of their lives. Another one? At some point when the boys reached middle school and the mom let me know what was REALLY going on I was shocked. Husband had a lover and other kid...he cheated on her regularly, had to support the other kid, AND best of all, she scrubbed her toilet with his toothbrush. Now, in all the troubles that I'd had with the boys dad, that creative revenge had not ever remotely occurred to me, lol! I never did it though, even after hearing about it. Who wants to go to hell for something like that, right? :) :) :)
KellySeptember 16, 2015 at 9:58 AM
you are definitely right! I'm guilty of judging a book by its cover. I've learned that isn't always the right thing to do and often it isn't how things really are. I think the best thing is to always treat others the way you would want to be treated. Karma is good too!
Terri TiffanySeptember 16, 2015 at 12:01 PM
We learned this truth the hard way eight years ago when my husband lost his job and we became quite depressed and scared. I would look at people standing in line at the grocery story and wonder what their real story was. We get good at masking our lives and really there is so much more going on that most of us will never know about each other.
Susan FreemanSeptember 16, 2015 at 5:44 PM
I could not agree more Laura! Thank you for saying it so eloquently.

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley