Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. -Dalai Lama
How much better could we understand each other, if we were able to actually inhabit each other’s bodies? Like some version of the movie Freaky Friday. I certainly know that I wished someone could inhabit my body(other than me) so they could better understand my point of view. However, there is the ability of empathy , but even that wasn’t enough for me or others that are in a crazy situation. Mere words were not enough, I wanted an absolute understanding and connection with someone. The support group I had gone to before, I left because it was too negative and seemingly a group of people sitting around griping and being sad. More recently I actually revisited the group and found it to be better. Although, there was an overwhelming sentiment of people just wanting a relationship. Some had even never really had a romantic relationship. Whether romantic or not, it seems that well and “sick,” people are looking for a real connection. Why is that? Even in an age that is so well connected.What makes it so difficult to connect with another human? Have we built up our walls of protection to be too resilient? Is it a lack of empathy? Perhaps it’s a mix of both. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that we need to be connecting to more than just the internet. Except for anyone in an isolated circumstance, the internet becomes the connection. When you can’t really leave your house and your social life is hanging on by a thread, the internet offers some much needed socialization. Personally, I’m very social and I like talking to people so this was crucial for me. However, what about those who only see a caregiver and don’t really use the computer!? I have often asked the Woman that comes over to help me, how much She knows about the other people She works for. Of course, this is not done only to be nosy on my part. Knowing that some of those people likely desperately need a social life, why not help provide them with that? Sadly, not everyone realizes how important that is until it happens to them. Again, where is that body switching machine!? We really do need more understanding among us. Since this occurred to me I have become so much more aware of the spirits inside of some people. The World may see a smelly, street person, but I see the person inside who really just needs some compassion and acknowledgement. You don’t have to be religious, a guru, or “new age,” to see someones true spirit. You just need to pay attention in those places that the rest of the world(or those around you) ignore.
pay attention,
