I’ve been pondering lately how throughout human history there have been great difficulties and horrific circumstances that people have endured, much of it due to what humans do to other humans. I’ve thought of people who suffered greatly yet came to be great teachers of wisdom and compassion, despite the extreme hardships they endured. In […]
From Lycra to T-Shirts: Recognizing the Human Behind the ‘Tribe’
Recently, while pedaling along Mississippi Delta roads with hundreds of other cyclists, I considered how we were more than just individuals on a ride—we were part of a ‘tribe.’ This sense of belonging and connection is something that extends beyond cycling, reflecting a deeper human need to form communities based on shared interests. But what […]
Watering Seeds
All around, green is overtaking brown as the dominant color of the landscape, revealing what survived the winter. Multiple colors of wildflowers emerge through the soil and stand out against the greening ground. And new plants are surfacing from seeds that received enough water and nutrients over the past season. For those new plants seen […]
The Power of Inner Compassion
I’m often struck by how some very compassionate-seeming people are so not compassionate with themselves. Their inner dialogue toward themselves can be harsh and absolutely contradictory to how they would speak to others. Sometimes this inner dialogue may come from some other time and place, perhaps reflecting how one was spoken to as a younger […]