Empathy...

I always used to pick up other people's emotions. Empathy. Compassion. Whatever it is, it is only increasing in strength as wave after wave of emotion envelops me at times from the physical presence of others. It can be intense and draining. We all know the power of images and music, but increasingly, simple visual stimuli like a photograph can elicit strong emotion in me.

Today, scrolling through Facebook, images of a wide-eyed Palestinian toddler looking plaintively at the camera while playing with parts of a broken dirty toy caused me to erupt in tears. So did the video of the monkey strapped to the table struggling against restraints as cosmetic chemicals were sprayed in his eyes. But, beautifully, so did the video of dozens of people pushing a train off of a trapped man. Acts of kindness and Love.

As I left work today, to protect and secure my family from the two hurricanes bearing down on our island home, I drove past Iwilei Road, A'ala Park, Chinatown and down King Street. I couldn't help but notice the disadvantaged, lying on their cardboard. Sitting in their dirty broken wheelchairs. Sitting alone in their flimsy shelters of salvaged garbage. As so many people rushed here and there to stock up on supplies, and fortify their homes with their families, caught up in the excitement, so many people had nowhere to go, and nobody to care for them. 

The majority of us Blessed with circumstances that led us down a different path of Life of fortuitous choices and razor-thin crossroads, focused on our immediate needs. With high-winds, torrential rain, numbing cold and flying debris endangering their already unconscionably miserable lives...it is so truly heartwarming and Soul-affirming to know that there were people out there doing what they could to help those truly unable, for a variety of reasons, to help themselves. It makes me so proud and humbly appreciative for these acts of Kindness and Love by such Beautiful and Caring People.

Our collective vibrations are rising. The Earth is rebelling. Humanity is entering a period of growth and choices that will determine the World we leave the Children. Let not the momentary greed, rudeness and thoughtlessness of some ruin the important lessons of these challenging times. We grow. We rise to the adversity and momentary suffering and discomfort. We exercise choices. To look away. Or to reach out a hand. 

When my brother was hungry. We chose to feed Him. When my sister was thirsty, we chose to give Her drink. You were cold. I gave you warmth. You were in the blackest deepest despair. I gave you Hope. You were dying. I gave you Love. And you gave my Life Purpose and Meaning. For that...I truly Thank You...