I promised a dear friend I would write a blog on this topic after a conversation we had online one morning while sipping coffee. We spoke about the numerous ways folks have been off put by the circumstances we have all encountered over the past two years during the global pandemic. It seems fitting to write the blog during the holiday season and ask ourselves the question, is compassion an action?
Compassion and the Origin of the Word
We think of the word compassionate as being a verb. But the full meaning of the word “compassion” from Meriam’s dictionary states the definition of compassion as a “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it. I can see defined compassion as an action.
Have you Ever been Called to Show Compassion Lately?
A recent example I encountered myself happened this past week when I stood in line at a pharmacy to pick up medication. The line was long and slow. Folks were rolling their eyes at each other while they waited. But I looked at the man behind the counter and began feeling compassion for him. He was alone in a large, national chain store with not one person helping him. I could not understand why he had no help. The man behind me said this same pharmacy literally closed early in the day last week when he was there due to the fact there was no help.
When I approached the man at the counter, I asked if he was the pharmacist. He looked up with caution as though he expected me to jump down his throat in anger for having to wait for so long. When he nodded yes, I simple thanked him for what he was doing, acknowledging how challenging it must be for him to fill orders as well as ring them up. He explained to me that a lot of employees simply quit, and he had no help. I offered to bring him something to eat and drink from the nearby food counter. He smiled, appreciated the offer, but turned me down.
The Act of Compassion takes a Conscious Effort
The holidays can be fraught with frenzy. We busy ourselves with needless tasks to fulfill what we believe are the necessary projects of the season, rushing about, spending recklessly at times, and creating situations that can make us a bit short-tempered. There are times when the act of compassion takes a lot of effort.
If we really stopped and thought about what we have while we are in the moment, and what could easily be taken away from us in an instant, perhaps we would find the action of compassion a bit easier. When you are in a foul situation do you think about a time when something precious was taken from you suddenly and unexpectedly; your health, a family member or friend you miss dearly, a job lost, or unable to afford a medical procedure or treatment that was not covered by insurance?
It is not in our natural human behavior to recall these unfortunate events in our lives. Especially when we have a short fuse over simple, daily events we have no control over that seem to ruin our day. Human suffering deserving of true compassion can be small incidents in public, with family, or on a phone call. It can also mean compassion of global proportion when an entire community is affected by a natural disaster or global pandemic like we have encountered the past two years. It takes a conscious act and decision to show compassion in both instances.
Ways to Show Compassion During the Holidays
I have no magic solutions because I certainly fall short on my call to compassion. With so many folks facing conflict, loss, poor health, a cancer diagnosis, or other health scare, what are small acts of compassion you can act on?
- Smile. It is free, easy to do, and has great benefits for the recipient.
- Donate your time, talent, and treasure to a worthy cause you believe in and know to be genuinely making a difference in people’s lives.
- Call a friend to just chat or handwrite a holiday note of gratitude for your friendship.
- Deliver a meal to someone who is ill, elderly, or recovering from surgery. You can also give a food gift card from a restaurant that delivers to their door.
- Hug someone. I do believe it can lower your blood pressure and there are some studies that even say this is true.
- Laugh long and hard with others. I recently spent a week visiting my family. My sisters, Mom, and I went through a box of tissues just from wiping tears of laughter as we recalled childhood antics and played a vicious game of Gin Rummy. My sister declared the next day she slept like a baby.
- Be patient. We are all under a great deal of stress these days. When those times arise that your fuse is getting short, close your eyes, take five deep, long breaths, and really think about showing and acting on compassion.
My wish for my readers this holiday season is that you are able to engage in the act of compassion and have compassion shown to you when you least expect it! How have you engaged in the act of compassion recently? I would love to hear from you.
