On Compassion...

I am the type of person who cares about helping out whenever I can. If someone is down, I'll listen. If someone is crying, I ask why, and if there's anything at all I can do to help. I think it's important to be willing to help, if possible. It's also important to be able to put yourself in the other person's situation,in a sense, to try to understand their difficulties. And usually you can do that just by talking with them for a little while and being a good friend. A lot of times, that's all people need, someone who genuinely cares and who is willing to listen. Sometimes, though, the best help you can offer a person is a referral to a specialist. So it's also important to know one's limitations. There's something to be said about helping out with no expectation of receiving anything in return. It's the kind of thing that makes a good place to live a great place to live. Compassion, though, is something I strive to maintain. In doing so, I believe I have come to better understand the world around me. The adversities I have faced in my own life have also taught me valuable lessons about life, human nature and the importance of having hope.