Tag Archives: empathy

Empathy 2019-001

Posted in Contemplation, Current Events by

Empathy        2019-001

Not enough of us have enough empathy for others. We can say we do, but in closer inspection, our nature is not in having enough. We live in a world of “ME” at times. What do I get, want, desire, without any feeling about anyone else, other than ourselves?

Our aches, and pains, our job situation, our pleasures and nothing about the other guy prevails, and what he desires or NEEDS. This is NOT unusual, quite common, and defiantly not an exceptional trait life choice of acting.
How do I allow myself, yourself or ourselves to get into this mode of thinking of Self and not of others? You say you have never thought this, or do not do so, ever???? I doubt it. It is a human condition of life to think of ourselves before we do so toward others.

Or first goal upon awakening is to do something for ourselves, and that is normal…. But where do we take some time to have feelings for others and not ourselves? Many organizations try to tug at our heartstrings and play upon our sympathy for those issues they are promoting. They want a donation to go to them to hopefully address the needs that they show us. That’s nice, but not what I am referring to now. For I have listed below those that I feel could use our empathy, sympathy and money.

Migrants, the Sudan starving people, Human trafficked people, sex slaves, homeless, returning vets, coal miners that are unemployed, factory people replaced by robots, prejudiced people of all sorts, and the multitude living in hunger daily. This is just part of a list, actually.

So, what to do? Some of these above issues can be helped with money, but many if not all sometimes requires action of some party with power to do something; such as our leaders. If we do nothing as individuals, we are nothing ourselves. We do not deserve to be recognized as caring people for others.

We cannot get on the band wagon and toot our horns for all people needing empathy. We can get involved in some way in certain areas that we may have a strong presence, AND DO SOMETHING!
Just a thought for the beginning of 2019.

Peace,
Den Betts
bettsden@gmail.com = Email
thebettsden.com = Blog site

Change Direction 2017-38

Posted in Religious by

 CHANGE DIRECTION   2017-38

What does it take to do something, to “change direction” in our lives? What exactly is it to do so and what directional change could we make? Sometimes it takes something to make us do something!

Recently, a friend of mine had a life-threatening health diagnosis that gives this person the opportunity to change direction in their lives.  Or, it gives them the chance to decide on doing something different other than just continuing in their lives the same way as it has been before the health news.

Yes, we can do nothing different.  We can seek treatment in some way that might make us better. We can do more though, by making a change in our lives in many other ways.

To change direction involves many things.  It may involve having a lifestyle that uproots our normal way of existing to one of having better habits, more exercise, eating different things, a disciplined way of using our mind towards a complete change of our Self.

Our attitude of living can be challenged to the point where we will no longer be seen as the person before. Perhaps, we will get closer to the God we were ignoring and become more cognizant of His presence towards us.  Or, maybe we will have a feeling of empathy for those we shunned or did not see in front of us, or among us.

Many things can happen that will involve our direction in life, which will completely make us a better person in the process. The old us, will become the new beginning of the newer us and this change will be startling to some, because it is not the old us in front of them now.

I remember a movie that involved “The Bucket List”. This showed two men who decided to make a change in their lives and begin to whittle down a list of things they wanted to succeed doing before they died. Perhaps we can start a list of those things we have put off in our lives because we were too busy, too scared, or too poor to do them in the past.  Maybe, we ALL should make a bucket list and check off those items we have not done in our lives.

To change direction requires us to make decisions.  We MUST start somewhere, and I ask this: When is the time to start?  When must we begin to change direction in our lives?  Also, consider this: What if we never change and the life line of life ends before we even get a chance to make a change?

If so, so be it.  We just did not decide on something we could have done that might have made a difference to someone else besides ourselves, which would be sad to a degree. This time on Earth has an ending, and we are all subject to this point in time.  

The ending on Earth does not mean, in my mind, an ending of life, just the ending as an Earthling.  I went to a funeral and the Priest said, “Our lives are like a trilogy, a beginning by being born, a middle where we live on Earth, and the third part, our eternal living after we die.” What if he was correct?

Can we, should we, really take a chance and not live our lives on earth with gusto and finally make a change in direction, and realize the third option of having life hereafter can be a reality?

Den Betts