by Susan | Jul 31, 2016 | essay, inspiration
One question that always, always, always arises when we are out and about talking about compassion concerns the anger in public discourse. How can we re-learn how to discuss important and controversial issues without resorting to shouting and name calling? Christopher...
by Susan | Jul 30, 2016 | essay, inspiration
This clever, Academy Award-winning 1952 Canadian short had me laughing out loud. Then thinking. When the flower first appeared I thought the flower was a dandelion and the neighbors might start arguing over whether it should be pulled or remain — a battle we sometimes...
by Susan | Jul 29, 2016 | essay, inspiration
I admit it — I get a little sloppy when I’m talking about compassion, sometimes conflating it with empathy or even sympathy. They aren’t exactly the same. Sympathy comes from Middle French sympathie, from Late Latin sympathia, from Ancient Greek...
by Susan | Jul 29, 2016 | essay, inspiration
I’m one of those people who thinks that a lot of human behavior is governed by rules that are so ingrained we don’t even realize we are following rules and may not be able to articulate them once we do. The Golden Rule, the underlying principle of the...
by Susan | Jul 29, 2016 | essay, inspiration
While sitting at the dining table the other day I glanced over to a corner of the room and was grossed out. I’ve been slacking on the housework for a while — first, a broken wrist, then — well — other things are more interesting, aren’t...
by Susan | Jul 29, 2016 | essay, inspiration
Some have called the Golden Rule, the heart of the Charter for Compassion, the ethic of reciprocity. Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself. Reciprocity, according to the dictionary, means mutual, uniformly felt or done by each party towards the other or...
