There is a story about a woman crying on a bus. She sits alone and even though she cries very softly into her handkerchief, the people nearest her  begin to take notice of her tears. Gradually, the whole bus grows aware of this woman crying and the atmosphere on the bus changes, becoming silent and respectful. One man from the very back of the bus slowly walks forward and sits next to the woman. He gently puts his arm around her, and sitting quietly without looking at her, he offers the simple comfort of his presence and his arm. The bus continues to move forward in the midday traffic. 

People often muse about their purpose here on earth, wondering if there is something they are 'supposed to be doing'. Perhaps our true purpose for being here is to simply offer presence, attention and compassion. Maybe we don't need to be a superhero and take down the person or thing that made another cry, or solve their problem, or fix what is broken. Small acts of loving kindness allow us to be a channel of divine grace and to recognize our interconnectedness, and perhaps even to know more about our true selves. 

Elizabeth Gilbert wrote: "It is my understanding that the heath of the planet is affected by the health of every individual on it. As long as even two souls are locked in conflict, the whole of the world is contaminated by it. Similarly, if even one or two souls can be free from discord, they will increase the general health of the whole world, the way a few healthy cells in a body can increase the general health of the body."  

Life is short. No matter how long you live, it is probably not going to seem long enough, so you might as well appreciate each other and everything around you while you can. Gift someone with a smile and enjoy your good. Speak kindly to others and to yourself.  Choose thoughts and words and actions that promote being well. We are all riding on the bus.


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The hardest practice of forgiveness is the one we do with ourselves. I tell myself that I should have known, I should have seen it, I should have done better.  But I didn't. Decisions I made in some situations were not the best ones. Sheldon Kopp wrote "All decisions are based on insufficient data". Meaning that we can only choose based on what we know at the moment, that at any time new information can come along that will give new perspective to our decision. And so we just do the best we can with what we know at the time. And we can choose to be OK with ourselves, choose to forgive ourselves over and over for being human or we can choose to not forgive and to punish ourselves in our withholding. So in that sense, suffering is truly optional, truly our choice. 

One of my teachers told me that forgiveness is a process that starts with a decision. It doesn't happen all at once, but is a becoming. Starting with that decision we make small steps to move us closer to our goal and we make that decision be the right decision; no mind changing, no second guessing. We listen to our language and inhibit negative self talk. We make room in our mind for the possibilities of compassion and letting go. We come to understand the freedom in forgiveness.  And in that becoming we move into our higher vibrational self, we choose to be happy and spread joy around in the world and invite others to feel good about themselves too. 


I have come to believe we would all be better off if we could forgive everybody everything, starting with ourselves. And as I write about  this, so I learn about this. 

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