There are so many videos these days on the internet
illustrating the rewards – in terms of well-being – of helping one another in
small ways. The enduring appeal of the
film It’s a Wonderful Life is that we need to do so little to make
someone else’s life happier, whether it’s encouraging them to follow their
dream, supporting someone in their ill-health, or smiling at the lonely old lady
in the park.
Because we see on film how little it takes, it encourages us
to review our life and how we relate to others.
Mostly we don’t use the word ‘compassion’ in our daily lives. But our desire to relieve suffering where-ever
we see it, and in whatever form it impacts on us, is compassion. Everyone we see is suffering in some way that
is not known to us, and even if we do no more than resist judging them, we have
helped.
Equally we need to recognise how much we are supported and
encouraged by those around us, particularly those whom we take for granted –
our partners and families; our neighbours; the person who doesn’t snap back
when we have unwittingly expressed our inward stress; the stranger who points
out that we have dropped something in the street. Life is made up of such little kindnesses
and such little heroes. It shouldn’t take
a film to point these out; but then we all need a reminder from time to time
that we’re all in this together. And that
life will be sweeter if we help one another along the way.
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