Compassion, a natural instinct

To shed light on the contrast between human behavior and animal behavior, how many times would you be willing to put your life on the line for another? Dolphins do it all the time. Research has shown that these gentle creatures are very cultured mammals. In fact, time and time again, they have demonstrated their natural instinct for compassion; more so than some human beings. Not only have they been known to guide injured counterparts to the surface to breathe, but this behavior has been observed helping species outside of their own realm; they have even been "seen protecting swimmers from sharks". I do not believe that dolphins would even second guess helping another. They have compassion beyond words.

Now imagine if everyone (including you) in your neighborhood, your community, your city, your county, your state thought just a little like dolphins. The world would be a better place. We would no longer see poverty, homelessness and starvation as the rule, instead it would be the exception. To have compassion -- true compassion, means sharing and caring for one another no matter the why, the how, or the who. We would not see other human beings as spoils of humanity, rather as potentiality.

Times today

In human beings, compassion seems to be waning nowadays. We hear news stories about indigent people -- whole families in fact, homeless; children barely getting enough nutrition to live, or worse, not getting any nutrition at all. It is an everyday occurrence in these United States, and all too often, the public just does not get it. People do not comprehend how someone can become so poor or deprived. So instead of offering a hand up, they look the other way to avoid dealing with "society's problems". The only upside and hope for humanity is that many homeless children, despite incomprehensible circumstances, have not lost their fortitude. In the documentary, "Homeless - the motel kids of Orange County," director Alexandra Pelosi said, "What I loved about these kids is, no matter how bad their environment may be, they are resilient, their spirits are not broken."

What we sometimes fail to realize as a society is that no human being deserves to be thrown to the wayside. Each and every person brings his or her own unique and wonderful gifts to this world. Each and every person, including you is worthy of love; in truth, we need to rely upon each other especially n times of crisis.  Why would we not want to fill those moments  with love, kindness and compassion for not just ourselves but for the many others worthy of our caring energy? When homeless children can still find happiness and blessings in the lives that they live, then can we not find possibility and hope in them, too?

Making a difference

Compassion is a natural instinct, and should be your moral compass. If you know of someone struggling, or if you know that a family is in need, ask yourself four little words: "How can I help?" Would you pass your child on the street if she were hurt? Would you turn the other way if you saw your mom battling to walk up a set of stairs? Would you let your brother starve if he had nothing to eat? There are simple ways to make an impact in the lives of others. Many times, it does not take extraordinary wealth, but just the willingness to lend a hand, mend a wound or to share a meal. Like dolphins share and care for one another in need, we too, as human beings have the capacity to do the same. We came to Earth to life our lives for a purpose and real meaning. Be remembered for the good you have done so that others may follow in your footsteps.

Joan Marie Ambrose

Author, Creative Writer, Motivational Speaker