“Have compassion for everyone you meet even if they don’t want it. What seems conceit, bad manners, or cynicism is always a sign of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen. You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone.”

–Miller Williams

This is one of the greatest quotes I have ever heard. It really makes you think about how much we judge one another based on the actions of others without having a clue what someone has been through. everyone lives with their own unique pain, sometimes never sharing it with anyone. I have experienced a lot of paradigm shifts in prison on this subject. I struggle with judgment and there have been so many times that I have felt a negative vibe towards someone, and then they talk to me about their past and I feel terrible because I suddenly have this deep insight into WHY they act the way they do. It would serve us well to be able to have this insight and extend understanding to others without having to hear about their pain. I suppose that is the essence of compassion. I strive to plant my energy by having compassion for everyone–even if they don’t want it.