With Loving-Kindness
We can make this a more peaceful century if we cherish non-violence and concern for others’ well-being. It is possible. If the individual is happier, his or her family is happier; if families are happy, neighborhoods and nations will be happy. By transforming ourselves we can change our human way of life and make this a century of compassion. — Dalai Lama
Earlier this month I was sitting in one of my toastmasters’ club virtual meetings. During the session, one of the topics was raised and an experienced speaker shared his thoughts on the current events.
His expression got serious, his tone of voice tighten, his eyes showed frustration and stress as he spoke about the disappointment of the way humans behave in to respond to the Covid-19. He shared a story of watching two people fighting against each other in regards to whether or not people should wear a face mask. He listened to the conversation and felt sadness for the loss of humanity.
It seems as if it was yesterday, we were all sitting at home, feeling scared and anxious but yet we had cared for the safety of others regardless of race, gender, religion, and social backgrounds.
In any civilization, freedom can never be exercised without limits. The more freedom we enjoy, the greater the responsibility we bear, toward others as well as ourselves. The more talents we possess, the bigger the responsibility we have to develop them to their fullest capacity.
Without this proper balance, unrestricted freedom is as dangerous as imposed social responsibility. As human beings, we have unlimited potential for self-fulfillment. Thus we have the obligation to develop our physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual capacities to their fullest.
Even when you see the world as a trap and posit a fundamental separation between the liberation of self and transformation of society, you can still feel a compassionate impulse to help its suffering beings. In that case, you tend to view the personal and the political in a sequential fashion.
In 2010 during the World Expo, I visited Shanghai, China. One of the largest world fairs or expositions ever mounted, it also was the most heavily attended of any such events. The expo was held on 1305 acres within the city of Shanghai on both sides of the Huangpu River, south of the city center. It took me literally a whole day to just visit a few exhibits in one day.
At the end of the day, I was exhausted walking with my two arm crutches. My feet were hurting and my body aching. When the service bus that arrived, I couldn’t get on. One by one, people passing me to rush on to the bus when the bus came to a full stop. It is uncommon for people like me, with a physical disability, in China to travel by public transportation. Before I realize it, the bus was packed. No more room for me to get on safety without being pushed or fall from the crowd. I stood on the side by the bus stop, one after another, I missed every bus that came and gone. I couldn’t get on.
Finally, behind me came a number of crew members from the media press. They had their camera on their shoulder, each man much taller and stronger than I am. As another bus approaching, they stepped forward using their bodies to blocked off the pathways and told me to get on first.
This is how I remember human kindness. I believe that the true essence of humanity will rise and win in every battle.
The world needs everyone. The world needs all the loving-kindness it can receive. Because when you care for the happiness and well-being of others, you care for the happiness and well-being of yourself.
The big and the small. The brave and the one who is afraid. The world needs everyone to be in this together. This is what makes this world beautiful.
There are many changes going on in our lives, some people are getting hit harder than others. But the world takes all of us within it to contribute and do our parts. The greatest discovery in human history is neither arts or science, but truly recognizing our own ignorance and insanity, as well as the solutions to resolve those problems.
With loving-kindness,
Michelle
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Michelle Kuei, Pharm.D., ACC, CPC, ELI-MP
Author. Life Coach. Speaker.
ICF Associate Certified Coach
Certified Professional Coach
Certified Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner
Certified Cor.E Transitions Dynamic Specialist
WomanSpeak Circle Leader
Doctor of Pharmacy
Flaws are what make us human. Accepting our flaws and forgiving ourselves for our mistakes and reconciling those conflicting parts of ourselves is crucial to our health and happiness. -Michelle Kuei, “Perfectly Normal: An Immigrant’s Story Of Making It In America”
