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Category Archives: compassion
They ought to get out more!
“Hamilton police sickened by shocking conditions…” said the headline in the Toronto Star.* The story covered an inquest into the death of a developmentally delayed man. That police officers would be shocked made me feel exasperated, thus my sarcasm. But … Continue reading
Posted in compassion, consciousness, dependent, poverty, special needs
Tagged caring society, ignorant, out of touch, poverty, shallow
4 Comments
Ode to Victor Lawson
How do you fail grade eight? You fail grade eight by being a child whose body language includes slumped posture, and downcast eyes. You don’t look people in the eye because you have such low self-esteem that you can’t. That … Continue reading
Posted in adolescence, compassion, education, empathy, encouragement, enrichment, teacher, the fifties
Tagged appreciation, failure, great teachers, John Victor Lawson, Victor Lawson
7 Comments
A is for Antoinette*
It’s six months since my friend Antoinette died, and I think it’s probably okay to ‘tell her story’ now. I mean it’s not likely that breaking confidentiality is relevant. The chances of someone who knew her discovering I’ve ‘told’ are … Continue reading
My tender cafe
How precious is the kindness and gentleness that surrounds me every day. I treasure it. It is part of a sub-culture hard to find in many places. I think that’s why I head here every morning. I can’t imagine a … Continue reading
Posted in cafe culture, compassion, generous, grieving, kindness, reflections
Tagged cafe culture, compassion, grieving, healing, kindness
2 Comments
One war souvenir with blue eyes…
The guy sitting in the underground path to the Manulife Center, just after our lovely lunch, had obviously been in a horrifying accident – perhaps something like an “IED”* in Afghanistan, I imagined; or a car accident that involved a … Continue reading
Posted in accountability, anti-war, compassion, consequences, injustice, war
Tagged compassion, injustice, social commentary, values
6 Comments
Desperate need…
Like most moms, I love my children enough that I would probably die for them. I also enjoy their cousins and their friends, especially now that my kids are in their thirties, and the others have been coming around for … Continue reading
Posted in awareness, beliefs, causes, compassion, consciousness, empathy, Inclusion, injustice, mental illness, reflections, schizophrenia, social commentary, social justice, trauma
Tagged compassion, inclusion, schizophrenia, social commentary, values
8 Comments
Love, in a way…
Love, in a way… Yes, I suppose you could say; I’m not sure I know In a definitive way What love is, really. Is it Love? — In a way… Well, it’s not that I’m dreaming You’ll take me … Continue reading
Posted in compassion, empathy, Feelings, love, pleasure, Poetry, reflections
Tagged compassion, feelings, love, pleasure, poetry
2 Comments
On “ending violence against women”
So you signed a petition to end violence against women? Bravo. Good start. But How are you going to end it? Really. You are bigger, stronger animals compared to us. Your voices are, by default, louder and more intimidating. By … Continue reading
Posted in compassion, empathy, Power, reflections, violence
Tagged non-violence, petitions, violence, vulnerability
5 Comments
Coming out as an atheist
When I was about 19, despite having taught Sunday school for three years, I delared myself an atheist. Or perhaps it was because of Sunday school. What had happened to the formerly ‘devout Christian’ me? My aunt, who at 92 … Continue reading
Posted in atheism, causes, compassion, fear, fundamentalist, gay, ignorance, Memories, peace, personal growth, poverty, reflections, religion, schizophrenia, social justice, values
Tagged atheism, compassion, high anxiety, personal growth, religion, right-wing, values
6 Comments
Thinking and Dreaming 
Yes, it is our job to feed our neighbour’s child
Once again, a typical Conservative statement of values (with apologies to Hugh Segal): Minister James Moore says “Well, obviously nobody wants kids to go to school hungry. Certainly we want to make sure that kids go to school full bellied, … Continue reading →