While surfing the net, I came across the story of a man named Wayne Pittman. He and his wife, Jacqueline are unemployed, but they both still have bills to pay. Wayne and his wife have a son, Joshua. Wayne was struggling with how to tell his son that he would not be able to get a Christmas present this year. Wayne was featured in an article earlier in December and spoke about how unemployment personally is affecting him.

A Florida lawyer named Dan Dannheisser read about Wayne and reached out to him. He found his contact information and called him, and explained that he wanted to provide his son with Christmas presents. Dan and his wife are sending Wayne Lego Star Wars and Star Wars movies for Joshua. Joshua will think that the gifts are from Santa.

After starting the book The Mindful Path to Self Compassion, by Christopher Germer and Sharon Salzberg, I’ve already learned a lot about what self-compassion is and how to get it. 
 

Many people have a hard time having self-compassion. Some may even find they think they are being selfish while practicing self-compassion. However, this is not the case. Everyone approaches situations differently.

 I would like to share with all the Compassionate Bloggers and readers a website that I go to when I'm feeling down called Makes Me Think. This website allows anyone to post a story from their daily life that is particularly happy, sad, or inspiring. After becoming a Compassionate Blogger and learning more and more about compassion, I saw a lot of overlap with the little stories found on this site.

 Here is one particular post I found especially compassionate:

"Loving Yourself"

Lately, with the pressures and stresses of college, I’ve really been tough on myself. I've been pushing my self to the limit, whether it is staying up all night studying or telling myself I’m not pushing myself hard enough. I decided that I need a little more self-compassion, and I think that probably goes for almost everyone.

We may have compassion for others, but I think many people in today’s society crack under social pressure and standards, and may completely write off their own self-worth. I know I do sometimes. Have you been told by family members or friends recently to “stop being so hard on yourself!”? Well if you have, you probably could use a little more self-compassion, too.

Sesame Street is broadcast in 120 countries all over the world and the latest target country is Nigeria, where it is called Sesame Square. Following the lead of South Africa’s Sesame Street, the new Nigeria show will stress compassion toward AIDS victims.

Sesame Street in both countries feature Kami, the first HIV positive puppet. The furry yellow Muppet, pictured here, is a five-year-old, HIV-positive girl orphaned by AIDS. Kami brings levity and compassion to a topic that so often evokes the opposite.

As human beings, we should find it in our hearts to save animals ravaged by the gulf oil spill. We are really the only ones who can make a difference.