Not all streets are created equal.
We all could use empathy as you can tell from each story.
Debbie Stevens is the amazing woman who donated her kidney to keep her boss alive. The boss was on a waiting list and could die before it is her turn on the transplant group. According to the account, Stevens got fired from the job yet did not say any unkind word about the lady boss. She also had no regrets, as it was a chance to save a life. Quite an extraordinary story of benevolence. She raised the bar on the compassion street.
Myra (not real name) shares her struggles in this story.
One evening while trying to pay for food at a local store, she realized to her dismay that her purse was empty. How could she have lost the money? Every “pesewa” and penny was precious as sales was slow. She walked back to try to find the money and runs into an acquaintance. They stop to chat. She narrates what’s up and soon both go their separate ways. She did not find the money and it hurt.
What Myra’s Story Teaches.
Looking back, Myra thinks she learned sensitivity that night. She learned to pick up subtle signs that a person might need help. It can be such a struggle to ask, just like with her that evening, and one can only hope her friend had been more sensitive at the time.
Makes me think we only learn to be compassionate and sensitive through our experiences and personal struggles. Perhaps, Ms. Stevens in the first story learned compassion from pain at some point in her life.
The compassion street is not a cheap one to walk. Some people already excel on this street. It is a process.
A smile, a kind word, often can mean a lot if we learn sensitivity. Yes?
Very educative and intuitive .
Thank you so much for the kind feedback.