Be Kind to Yourself

Many of us are quite accomplished at showing great kindness and compassion to others.  We're not always as apt to respond to our own needs.  The Bible, in Mark 12:31, tells us "Love your neighbor as yourself." The challenge is two-fold:  we must be lovable and loving.

No Limits!

This month has been a blur of positive energy, successes, possibilities, encouragement, advancements, challenges overcome, teamwork, creativity, initiative, compassion and innovation.  Though there are countless things over which we have no control, this reminds me that there are no limits to the way we react, respond or take charge of the situations we encounter.

I've previously shared insights from several of these events, but feel inspired to share some thoughts from some of the exceptional women I've been privileged to hear in the past two days:

• Kathrine Switzer - 1st female Boston marathon runner
• Kay Bailey Hutchison - 1st female to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate
• Sheryl WuDunn - 1st Asian-American Pulitzer Prize Winner
• Dr. Bonnie Dunbar - Astronaut who flew the first docking flight between the Russian Space Station and the Space Shuttle
• Bonnie St. John - 1st African-American ski racing Olympic medalist

Each of these remarkable women has chosen to use her accomplishments and wide public acknowledgement to become positive, outspoken role models and change agents.  

My loving parents encouraged me from birth hat I could do and be anything.  So many of our young women and men need external encouragers.

When we positively pursue our passions with hard work, commitment and obsession for excelling, there are no limits!

Bite Marks on My Tongue

Age and experience provide so many opportunities to improve our relationships.  The bite marks on my tongue (from words unsaid) heal easily.  The mental anguish (mine and other's) from unintended angry words linger. 

Sharing

We all have things to share with others:

• Concern
• Experience
• Advice
• Mistakes
• Successes
• Connections
• Referrals
• Ideas
• Opinions
• Respect
• Understanding
• Values
• Wisdom
• Compassion

May we always remember that no matter where we are in our personal journeys, as we share with others, we increase our learning, experience and perspective.  Most often, important sharing involves listening intently and compassionately responding.

Hurt Feelings

We're all human. Sometimes we unintentionally hurt the feelings of someone we care about. And there are times when we're just angry and retaliate when we feel slighted. It's easiest to stalk off, leave or disappear. And of course, an easy response is to blame, yell or become mute.

The best response is a pause.

When we get too caught up in our emotions and reactions, we often respond inappropriately.

Bite marks on my tongue are badges of relationships improved, enhanced or salvaged. I've discovered that being silently right is often more universally satisfactory than the damage control required to amend for vocal positioning.

None of us consciously try to hurt those we care about. Life just happens. The more often I remember this and pause rather than react, the happier those I care most about and I are.

When There Are No Other Words

There are times of devastating loss that leave us speechless. When I was young I assumed that there were words of wisdom, compassion and comfort that adults relayed to one another in times of profound sadness. As I grew older and experienced unthinkable loss, I realized that there are no formulaic words that convey the right expression of empathy and sympathy. The expressions I most appreciated were those from the heart - often a hug, a touch, a memory or the sincere conveyance that the friend had no idea what to say. When there are no right words, it's just important to let the person you care about know that you care.