In my entry about how to conquer negativity I shared that one of the best antidotes to negativity is Compassion. This week I have been working in Georgia. I have heard many conversations about tornado warnings, the importance of listening to warnings, and stories of what happens when people don't listen. I wonder if we are as concerned about listening to compassion warnings.
I have felt my compassion growing as I hear more stories about the damages brought by the series of storms touching down in the South of the country. Probably because the path of destruction left by last week tornados is not too far from where I have been working, I have followed the news more closely.
Today in the New York Times I saw a story that beautifully illustrates compassion. Patty Bullion, of Lester, Ala., created a page on Facebook that has so far reunited dozens of storm survivors with their prized — and in some cases, only — possessions.
In it’s crazy path, the tornado that did not touch down in Patty’s town, dumped into her yard other people’s memories that the storm had dumped in passing. Her page has served as a place where people looking for hope have been able to find a piece of their gone past. It has also become an unexpected meeting ground for strangers. There are many comments in the page and under the posted “lost” pictures or items. Besides trying to identify the owners, the comments show sentiments of solidarity, wishes for good endings, compassion. . . .
In comments under a picture of a seemingly not so important paper, someone wrote: "I lived in New Orleans when Katrina hit and anything that says "normal" or something recognizable to bring peace into mine or my families lives helped. A few days ago this may have been sitting in a drawer forgotten...but now it's something to hold on to. All my prayers go out to these people who lost everything, as i did in 2005."
In bringing images, people, feelings, and a sense of community, the page has also become a site where people are moved to bring practical help for the many that have lost everything. A great accomplishment of the social media times.
Many business organizations could do with more compassion. Many times it seems as if we have become so insensitive that nothing awakens our compassion. The stress and distress of others doesn’t move us. We become blind to the needs around us. We don't listen to compassion warnings! Maybe it does take a tornado to remind us that compassion can go a long way to help others and our own self.
Look around you. You don’t need a natural fierce storm to awaken your dormant feelings of compassion! Your place of work could be going through a “tornado” of re-design and change. Your family could be experiencing the “tornado” of teenage children, or re-location. Your city could have a “tornado” of crime or drugs. Think where you can show more compassion. Not only will you help others feel better, you will also feel good as a result!
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Photos by: Patty Bullion and champagne.chic