Posts Tagged: compassion

Peace Is The Way

October 23rd, 2012
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PEACE IS THE WAY
By Alan Nordstrom
“There is no way to peace; peace is the way,”
Wise Gandhi said, by which I think he meant
We have to be that which we seek, and play
The role we would become with clear intent.
For as I think and act so shall I be,
And so the world around me shall become:
If violently, then war shall vanquish me;
If lovingly, then peace shall still the drum.
It’s in our hands and hearts and minds to choose
The manner we live by, day after day:
Shall it be marching boots … Read More

A Dose of Kindness

October 5th, 2012
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Visiting people who are sick is one of the kindest acts we can ever practice.  Sitting and talking, holding their hand and listening seem so simple to the healthy but those things are so essential in helping the ill know that they matter, that they are not forgotten even though they are no longer able to independently move around. Bringing about a smile or laughter through a funny story is just as important as any medicine prescribed by a doctor.  Laughter, in particular, is a powerful distraction from pain and illness. One of my sisters and her husband are compassionately… Read More

Sympathy Cards

January 31st, 2012
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Recently, I sat at my desk, intending to write a sympathy card to a good friend but found myself floundering.  I started writing a few phrases and then stopped. I couldn’t find the right words that I thought would offer comfort.  It was a struggle to get my thoughts on paper and it seemed as if everything I wrote sounded awkward. I started again.  I opened the card and started to write and stopped.  Maybe I was over thinking what I wanted to say, but everything I came up with sounded so trite.  Of course, I was sorry and very… Read More

Good Karma

January 27th, 2012
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Photo by Eileen Milner I am not a Buddhist but I do believe in karma. Building up good karma in the great big ‘ole universe of spirituality reminds me of what Catholics think of as corporal and spiritual works of mercy.  Karma is the universal law of cause and effect.  Most people try to do good deeds because it makes them feel they have helped someone else and also because it’s the right thing to do. When it comes to doing bad things, we all try our best to minimize the bad karma we put out there.  It sounds so… Read More

The Month of Thanks

November 18th, 2011
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A Bowl of Hot Smashed Spuds…YUMMMM As we ready for that time of year when we traditionally pause and give thanks, this year may be hard for some to find a reason to be thankful. If you recently lost a loved one, a holiday celebration can exacerbate all the jumbled up feelings you are experiencing and trying to understand. Thanksgiving was the first holiday that my son and I experienced following my husband’s death.  Our son was thirteen at the time and he and I decided to stay with our usual Thanksgiving routine of having dinner at my parent’s house… Read More

October Snowfall in NYC

November 1st, 2011
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This past weekend I visited some people I love, in a city I love, even though the weather forecasters were predicting snowfall in October.  Despite the drumbeat of weather predictions, I didn’t believe it would actually happen.  I thought it might be cold enough to snow but I never thought it would actually stick to the streets and accumulate. Obviously, I was wrong.  By Sunday morning, CNN said New York City’s Central Park received 2.9 inches of snow and thousands of dollars in tree damage. Saturday morning, on the way to New York, it was heavy pounding rain.  Thank goodness… Read More

Living Through Personal Crisis — Register Now for Oct. 19 Conference

October 14th, 2011
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There is still time to sign up for this conference if you or anyone else you know is interested: Sibley Hospital’s Widowed Person’s Outreach is sponsoring a conference on Living ThroughPersonal Crisis on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. Bestselling author Dr. Ann Kaiser Stearns brings a powerful message to those dealing with the pain of a loss. With her inspirational insight and helpful healing strategies, you’ll discover how you can move beyond the harsh and painful events that have occurred, grow stronger and still live a fulfilling life.  When a loved one dies, a marriage or important relationship ends, a financial… Read More

Moments of Grace

October 7th, 2011
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I found the below story, beautifully written by Colleen Wilson, from the excellent website, Hello Grief, to be uplifting. As we all continue with our quest to find a healing place for our grief feelings, I hope that each of us is able to find our own moments of grace. Moments of Grace By Colleen Wilson http://www.hellogrief.org October 5, 2011 As many grieving people know, keeping a loved one’s memory alive after they die can be a difficult task. There are many images, voices, smells and memories that you want to remember forever, but each day it can become a… Read More

Light A Candle

October 4th, 2011
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Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle,  and the life of the candle will not be shortened.   Happiness never decreases by being shared. — Buddha… Read More