Part of a Whole

Dear Readers,
As I read other blogs, go to meetings, and read more on self-compassion, I am growing a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.
Our emotions are human emotions. We get mad, sad, frustrated, happy, and annoyed.
Everyone makes mistakes. It is part of being human.

But we can help each other heal, no matter what the pain. 
We are not alone, even though we often think we are. 
We want and need other human connections, people who understand us.

I am finding that as low or depressed as I might feel, if I just reach out, and ask for help, I find other people who can support me. My hurt and pain may be caused by different experiences than others, but it still is human hurt and pain. 

I am also finding the less I judge myself, the less I judge other people. The more compassion I have for my human mistakes, I more compassion I have for other people's mistakes. 

I am done punishing myself for not being perfect. I tried so hard to be a perfect teacher. 
I am done punishing myself for not trying to save the world. I had an inflated ego thinking I should be doing something more to help the earth or other people.
I am done punishing myself for not walking more, or not eating right.
I am done with words such as "stupid, lazy, dumb, or fat".
I am done punishing myself for being human.

And so, I no longer want to judge other people for being human. 

I got help for my drinking when, after I reached out, other people said, "We know what that is like. We can tell you what helped us." 
There was no judging or shame from them.
They are helping me heal, by sharing their humanness with me.
You, Dear Readers, are a part of my healing.

This, of course, is an ongoing process. The compassion I am showing myself is helping me love other people more.

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”    -Einstein

To All My Friends Who are Struggling - You have beauty, life and are lovable. Never give up.