Celebrating One Year of Compassion – A #1000Speak Post
I want to tell you a story.
It’s a simple story – very short, truly sweet. It’s the story of a little girl who saw someone in need and acted with compassion. This little girl was on the school recess yard with a friend, playing whatever things little girls do on the school recess yard at lunchtime.
It was one of those days in the very late fall where some people feel cold and others feel warm. The second little girl had left her coat in the classroom and was cold. And so the first little girl removed her own coat and gave it to her friend to wear until the end of recess.
That little girl – the one who gave away her coat – is my daughter.
My husband and I learned what she did from a teacher who had witnessed it firsthand. The whole thing took seconds. There was no debate, no pretense; she just saw a need and acted upon it. It very nearly brought me to my knees and most certainly brought me to tears.
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It’s hard to believe that our first post link-up for 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion was a year ago already! I have to say that being part of this effort and this group of people has been truly a remarkable experience. Most of the time, #1000Speak is something that kind of goes on in the background of my life, churning away without calling attention to itself.
And yet, I find that I have never been more aware of compassion and its benefits in the moments of my days. I find myself attracted to and reading different and better types of blog posts, articles, and books. I pay attention to how I treat myself and others, considering whether words and actions are truly compassionate in nature. Compassion seeps into my conversations with my husband and my daughter, with family and friends, and with my self. Do I always act with compassion? I’m certain not. But the desire, the awareness, and the effort are always there.
I have been blessed and fortunate to have met and collaborated with some interesting and incredible people from all walks of life all over the world. Our desire to create a more compassionate world unites us, defines us, and brings us all to a better understanding of what it means to think and act and love compassionately. This experience has been life-changing in just the short year since we started. It is my sincere hope that it will continue to be so for me, for you, and for all of us.
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Hate and cruelty characterize so much of the news we encounter each day. Many days I read about circumstances that perhaps would not exist if only people knew how to treat one another with love and compassion. Many days I find that my eyes fill with tears and I sometimes think about the tears I shed on the day my daughter shared her coat.
But my tears that day were ones of happiness, of joy, because I realized that we have accomplished something – or at the very least accomplished the start of something. If what we’re doing has caused me in some way to exhibit compassion, to make it clear to my child how to see others first, then we have succeeded. If we have made it possible for a young child to instinctively act with compassion and other-centeredness, then it is possible for that child and others like her to grow into adults who do the same. And if that continues, think of the possibility…
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For the last year, bloggers all over the world have been joining our voices and sharing our words each month to talk about topics related to Compassion so we can help flood the world with goodness.
This month, 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion continues to work toward building a more compassionate world.
We are CELEBRATING ONE YEAR OF COMPASSION!
Write your post add it to the link-up right here by clicking the blue button below.
Are you ready to join us? Here’s how to get involved:
Join 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion on Facebook
Visit the 1000Speak blog
Follow @1000Speak on Twitter
Use the #1000Speak hashtag across social media.
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24 Comments
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Lisa, what a lovely share. Your daughter has her Mummy’s heart 🙂 x
Thanks, Kimmie. She actually teaches my heart. 😊
Beautiful Lisa.
🙂
Short and sweet.
You say in this precisely what this last year has meant to my life and how it has improved my writing, simply by giving me a goal for betterment to aim for through my words and the ones I read from others. I hope it continues.
That other girl is lucky to have a friend in your daughter.
I am so glad to have met you through #1000Speak.
Thank you, Kerry. And so glad to have found you, too!
A short, sweet and “says it all” story. The 1000#Speak initiative is near and dear to my heart as well, and you nailed it when you say it has become part of you, running in the background, like an automated program and affecting what you do, say and think.
It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done, Val and has affected me in countless ways. Glad you’re part of us, too!
What a remarkable child. She must have fantastic parents.
Thank you, Liv. ❤
Ah wasn’t finished. Stupid phone!
I don’t know if I think of us as fantastic, Liv. I just try to think how what she sees and hears shapes her. She has a kind and generous spirit. And she has always been perceptive of others’ moods and feelings, even as a baby.
But I do know that we must be doing something right. Just kind of hard to say “oh yeah we’re the reason.” but that’s a whole different post I think. 😊
What a terrific story & how wonderful it is that your daughter has enough positive exposure to kindness & compassion at home that she hasn’t lost her natural inclination to help. Whether you realize it or not, children reflect back the positive they see in us. We often get so caught up in the myriad of ways that we negatively impact them, that we forget all of the good.
Thank you, Carol. I think you’re right that we often don’t notice the good in ourselves – too easy to focus on what we think we’re doing wrong. That’s an important mindset to change.
Ohhh Lisa, I so SO love that Zilla was immediate in her action, once she knew there was a need for it. Such a sweet thing for her to do, and so kind. You’re definitely getting LOTS right, if that’s how she operates.
And yes, I think that more and more people are becoming ‘switched on’ to compassion, and the possibilities, if the role-modelling and right teaching continues, are INCREDIBLE to consider 🙂
So glad you’re part of this, and that you’ve noticed it make a difference in your world <3
I know. I love it, too. It is often how she operates. I mean she does lots of typical kid things that aren’t so fantastic, as they all do, but for the most part, it is in her nature to be that way.
I really am glad to be part of it (even if not the most active or helpful all the time…because life…but I am truly glad to be here.)
[…] Celebrating One Year of Compassion – A #1000Speak Post […]
This so reminded me of my brother who came home from school without his coat, to tell Mom casually that he gave it to his friend who needed it. Compassion shows itself in the simplest of ways, doesn’t it. And as always ‘A child shall lead us…’
Thank you for sharing, Lisa.
I love that, Corinne! And yes, these children so often do lead us.
What a great story! So wonderful that your daughter was immediately so compassionate and thoughtful of another. You guys are obviously raising a wonderful little girl!
I too am often moved by the thoughtful gestures of my kids – they are a great reminder of how small acts of kindness make a big difference.
Thanks, Louise. I love that she did that. Kids are naturally kind and generous, I think – at least until they learn otherwise. They have so little pre-conceived nonsense in their heads and I would love to see more adults just be that way.
I believe that compassion is probably the most important character trait we can have, it walks hand in hand with love, which is the greatest power we know. While we may not practice compassion perfectly, it is the intent, the desire to be compassionate toward others that has the ability to change us and thus to change the world. Your daughter has the purity of heart to understand that we don’t need to overthink it – just do the right thing. Bless her!
It’s definitely in my top few. I like your point – we may not always get it right, but the desire drives us toward change. I love that kids don’t overthink this sort of thing – they generally just do. It’s not until later that they lose that. I’m working to make sure she doesn’t lose it.
I loved reading the story about your daughter and how easy it was for her to reach out to someone in need. I find my children too, teach me all the time about the stuff that really matters. I’m relatively new to the 1000Speak community, and am enjoying reading everyone’s stories and thoughts. I can see how it would form an important part of one’s consciousness.
So glad to have you with us, Yamini! The posts are truly amazing, always.
Children are truly such wonderful beings! Your daughter certainly learnt from you and had her own innate goodness to make that wonderful gesture!
Thank you, Roshni. I do hope we are teaching her well. It makes me feel very positive to know she acts with compassion all on her own.