The Year of Compassion
Compassion, by it’s very nature, requires us to be mindful. In order to be compassionate, or, to bear the suffering of ourselves and others with the intention of alleviating that suffering, we must be alive to ourselves and the world around us…
Before Clara was born, Erick and I talked at length about how we wanted to raise our children. How we would set boundaries, what kind of discipline we would use. One of the guiding principles that we decided on was to choose three ideals to shape actions in our home. Those three principles are kindness, honesty, and respect. Instead of telling Clara, “No hitting!” We say, “It’s not respectful or kind to hit others.” That way, she doesn’t have to remember rules that might seem arbitrary to her, but instead has a framework for her choices and behavior. (Please note, I strive very hard for this. It often doesn’t happen this way, certainly not as much as I wish it did!)
Erick and I certainly model respect and honesty with each other and with Clara, but really, my kindness and compassion could use some work. Especially in high-stress times, I become impatient with both Erick and Clara and although I wouldn’t qualify myself as a meanie, I’m not always pleased with my behavior- and neither is my family.
But lucky for all of us, I have signed up for a year long course on living more compassionately. I found Laura’s site when I signed up for World Yoga Practice Month. Her story really struck a chord for me (you can read it here) and knew immediately I was going to participate.
So, whether it’s year of the pig or the monkey, I do not know, but I have declared this my personal Year of Compassion, and there are so many good reasons for me to do this!
First and foremost, having Erick and Clara in my life makes me want to be the best possible version of me I can be, and I’m pretty sure I have lots of lifetimes of learning left before I’m declared perfect! Second, this totally lines up with my happiness pyramid (see it here)! Third, I believe that in order to teach, it is essential to keep learning and last, this program, by the looks of it, encourages finding your own answers, which is completely in sync with my belief that we all possess our own answersif we pay attention.
If you are curious, head over to Laura’s website and check it out. Interested in signing up? Let’s start a group! Just want to get the newsletters? Right on! They are free… Just want to live vicariously through me? Stay tuned, the year of compassion is coming at you, right here, in 2008!
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December 18th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Thank you for dropping by my blog. No good deed goes unpunished, however, and I’m tagging you. You can see my tag post at
http://yogalikesalt.com/2007/12/18/ouch-ive-been-tagged/
December 18th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Isn’t it wonderful how a loving partner and a child can make you walk taller and tread more gently? Having been raised in an Anglo-Saxon Canadian family environment, I was taught to be nice and to avoid conflict at all cost. Thank heavens giving birth to two children brought out the mother bear love in me. The children have made me a braver more outspoken person than I could have ever imagined.
Thank you for your enthusiastic comment on by blog. Please do stay around. It’s lovely to think of someone down south, but same time zone, reading my blog and doing their yoga along side of me. My husband and in-laws are Italian though they have long lived in Germany.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I can’t wait to read about all you learn through this program. Thanks for sharing this Nona!
December 18th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Whenever someone is really rude to me… I try to think, wow, there must be something really difficult going on in their life right now. I need to have compassion for them.” Of course, not always the easiest. Because my immediate reaction really is, “What is that person’s problem? Is it necessary to be soooo nasty?” Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities in new york city to work on this skill. I, too, am a work in progress!
December 19th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Lilaia, well, I’m hoping to somehow convince you to give me the name of that restaurant of which you speak so highly! My husband and I both enjoy Germany immensely and are looking forward to some visits while we are here!
Shannon, I’m really pleased to be participating in this!
Kelcey, aren’t we all lucky to be presented with opportunities to practice? I imagine New York would be especially full of chances to be compassionate!
December 19th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Love this post. I also strive to be kind and patient and compassionate, but I sometimes fail, and it’s definitely my family who takes the hit the most. I’m eager to follow you on your program to see where it takes you. Good post!