Compassion, Day 2

Compassion, Day 2.

There has been this reminder in my head all day to note compassion.

So far, I've noted the compassion of a student concerned about his friend's well-being, the compassion of our counselor for the well-being of a student and for the future of our seniors, and I've even noted that Tyler was compassionate to his little brother (after calling him "Fat Boy").

My compassion? I felt compassion for the husband, the small child, the large child, and for several of my students during their interactions with their peers. I'm still struggling with feeling compassionate for myself.

Jake Quotes, Vol. 2

One of Jake's classmates was complaining of a stomachache after lunch.
Jake: "It's probably your appendix. It's going to burst!" (pandemonium follows...)

Mrs. Mays explains that certain cleanliness should be practiced after going to the bathroom.
Jake: "I didn't wash my hands before OR after I went to the bathroom. THAT'S why my apprendix burst!!!"

After Daddy got pulled over by the highway patrol...
Jake (pulling up his shirt and talking to the patrolman): "See this scar? My appendix burst and this is where they took it out. See this scar? This is where my drain tube was. See this PICC line? I get my medicine through this!"

Jake Quotes, Vol. 1

#1.
Mommy: "How did you get Tyler to buy you a Lunchable?"
Jake: "A boy has his ways."

#2:
Jake (seeing his big brother for the first time in the morning): "Hi Stupid!"

That's Jake TALKING on the boat while on Table Rock Lake...

Jake #1

Today my child told his teacher that he didn't get his homework done last night because his grandmother was dying (today) and he had to go to the hospital.

Of course, completely false!!!

This child is going to make me old quickly.

Compassion, Day 1

My assignment this week after my BEST therapy is to journal all my experiences with compassion.

I think compassion is a sense of empathy that I feel toward others and that empathy occurs when I am aware of their discomfort or distress.

Compassion toward myself is much more difficult. I've always refused to feel sorry for myself, even when I have been miserable, lonely, scared or depressed.

That's probably why I am literally making myself ill.

I am supposed to get an official definition of compassion:

1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/compassion)

I guessed most of the definition. Apparently, I have some trouble with the second portion...accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering... to the point that I cannot feel compassion for myself b/c I'm too busy trying to alleviate the suffering of others.

That's not so far-fetched. I spend the better part of my day watching the social and anti-social behavior of people.

Since my "diagnosis", I have experienced the feeling of compassion /or/ watched acts of compassion /or/ stopped anti-social behaviors at least 100 times. Do others see these acts of compassion all the time??? Am I ultra-sensitive to compassionate acts or instances where I feel I must step in with compassion???

IDK. Compassion day one... sigh...

again from "Eat, Love, Pray"

Gilbert: 'I seriously believed David was my soul mate.'

Richard from Texas: 'He probably was. Your problem is you don't understand what the word means. People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you will ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave.'

Gilbert (2006: 149)

From "Eat, Love, Pray"

"Learning how to discipline your speech is a way of preventing your energies from spilling out of you through the rupture of your mouth, exhausting you and filling the world with words, words, words instead of serenity, peace and bliss."

-- Elizabeth Gilbert (p. 190, 2006 ed.)