In the A to Z of life C is for Compassion

With the possible exception of the sociopaths out there-you know who you are or to be honest you probably don't!- we as humans feel a vast rainbow of emotions. Compassion is one of the most beautiful hues in this emotional spectrum. Sadly it is often overlooked in favour of more obvious and apparently easier to understand ones such as wrath and pity. It's often easier to get angry with someone for demonstrating weakness, far easier to pity someone in a worse situation then you rather than try and understand them. This is sad because compassion is at it's root so simple and uncomplicated.

In the A to Z of life C is for Compassion.

In basic terms compassion is the understanding of the emotional state of oneself and others. It's that simple. Compassion grows from this often temporary understanding and manifests itself in altruistic behaviour. Our understanding of how we and others feel leads us to be nicer to ourselves and to others. This is not a weakness it is a strength. In this dog eat dog world where he/she with the biggest stick or the biggest gun is often revered...compassion is a rare but shining light.

I wonderful example of compassion is demonstrated in the famous song 'No Woman No Cry' by the late great Bob Marley;

Though Bob Marley likely wrote the song himself, songwriter credits were given to "V. Ford". Vincent Ford was a friend of Marley's who ran a soup kitchen in Trench town, the ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica where Marley grew up. The royalty cheques received by Ford ensured the survival and continual running of his soup kitchen.

The song itself demonstrates how compassion changes peoples lives and brings comfort in the hardest times. The 'Georgie' of the song once fed Marley and his friends when they were down on their luck in Trench town-perhaps this act of compassion prompted Marley to credit the song to Vincent Ford, another man who devoted his life to helping people in dire straits. The song is sung to Georgies widow offering her his compassion as she was grieving. he promises everything's going to be alright".