Caring

        "Caring begins with self. You have seen people who constantly care for others to the detriment of themselves. This is looked on as a good thing and it is an unselfish act of giving, but we are striving for a balance within and without. How often do you go through the day rushing and rushing and trying to get 'caught up'. It is true that there are always many activities that must be done each day and that in itself takes discipline and sometimes patience. Yet, how often do you give of yourself to those around you, but forget yourself?

        It is in balancing of the self that the best giving will occur. The same act can be made and yet with balance, the intent, with the harmony of self, makes for a better gift. We need to care first for ourself for there is where the foundation is laid for all things. Roles in life require many types of caring and many spend their lives as care-givers. Still, there should always be some time set aside for the caring of the self, the nurturing and comfort that all require.

        Peace within can be a gift. Just being with a person who is in perfect harmony is a gift. It is seldom experienced but is a goal to be sought after. So if not perfect harmony, we can at least have a better 'tune'. We affect those around us and if we have laid a foundation of caring within, it will spread to others. Caring must sometimes be taught. Concentrating too much on desires and needs can limit the capacity to be of service to others. So here again we see there must be a balance between the search for needs and desires and the quiet comforting and contemplation that brings peace.

        It is well to care for others because we are all linked. We do not know what is being felt by an individual who is in pain, perhaps in another country, but we can empathize and extend a helping hand. The development of a sense of caring is a continual process. It is too easy to ignore and become unfeeling to the plight of others. As we extend our sense of caring, we can develop a sense of community, of caring for species unlike our own, as well as the land we live on. It is a good thing to develop caring in children, starting with small things that can be recognized and then over a period of time, extending that caring until it becomes a pattern that is comfortable.

        Caring is extending warmth, love, thoughtfulness, and appreciation. It is a sharing of the self with others. With that sharing, the self grows and expands its capacity to develop a loving nature. In this way, the harmony of the earth and the harmony surrounding others is increased. Each person adds to the song of life."