on BE-ing.....

Often times when a person is sick or depressed, the family, friends, and caregivers of the sick feel they need to overcompensate, and work extra hard to make the sick person feel safe, comforted, and pain free. These are all very natural emotions, especially when it comes to caring for someone we love. The idea of freeing someone of their pain, and making them whole again is euphoric. Unfortunatly, this is easier said than done. The caregiver often feels the need to "jump through hoops" to try and bring one ounce of joy and comfort to the sick, when many times all the sick person wants is a little peace; he/she just wants to BE! Just BE-ing is the act of being close to someone buy not necessary saying a word. Just the comfort of knowing you are "there", present in the moment, is just enough. The quote "silence is golden" says it all. Just BE! BE alive, BE present, BE comforting, BE concerned, BE compassionate, BE empathetic, merely just BE!

Today's activity: Empathy
By definition: understanding and entering into another's emotions and feelings; show sadness or happiness for another

Empathy is a feeling, closely related to sympathy. Empathy is a FEELING, transfering one's thoughts into someone else's; putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Many times we find it easy to criticize or be harsh to others, not knowing what might be going on in someone else's life. The act of empathy heals pain, empathy helps people connect, empathy builds trust among people, empathy closes the loop and opens the doors of communication. Empathy is the "radar detector" of emotions. Empathy is all about how WE LISTEN to each other, and how INTERESTED we are in one another.

Today, lighten up...try and put yourself in someone else's shoes. We all have a story, a background, good or bad. We never know when someone may be suffering or in pain. Be empathetic....just BE!