The series provides simple practices for compassionate everyday caregiving grounded in mindfulness, self-compassion and fuelled by kindness.

“Speak only when you are moved to speak,” is an assurance provided to participants that their presence in whatever manner that does not disrupt the session is always welcomed. A quiet presence in good faith is a contribution.

Nonetheless, I was moved by the trust people offered to each other even though most were meeting for the first time.

“To live well and to leave well,” was how one put it when we explored what we cared about. Another declared that to “live a life that made a difference for another or for a good cause” was what she cared about. “Harmony, peace, kindness, compassion, connection, gratitude, fairness and social justice” were some of the values that others cared about.

To nurture a peaceful version of ourselves we work at embodying the qualities that we care about and over time, we will find ourselves showing up differently in the presence of others.

Compassionate communication begins with self-empathy or being gently in tune with our own needs. This calls for authenticity and vulnerability which are more lightly to emerge in a safe caring space which we co-created reasonably well.

On checking out, one shared that she appreciates the space to simply show up as she was. In a work setting, she was constantly projecting a picture of herself that she believed was expected by her superiors, colleagues or customers. For me, it sounded like being “professional” was a role she played, and she felt like she was acting in a movie and delivering well-rehearsed lines that were not exactly in her life script.

Finally, as a climate of authenticity and vulnerability contributed significantly to a mutually satisfying learning experience, I would like to end with a quote from M. Scott Peck that I think would speak to all present:

For peace and community,

Gerard