Service means recognizing one another and what is needed, and then mobilizing our caring into action. Our efforts toward others’ happiness results in our own.
It took Mark Checkley of Hamilton three years to get help after a work injury that left him depressed and fighting with workers’ compensation officials, lawyers, MPs and doctors.
“By getting out into the world and seeing others’ suffering, you have
two choices: to embrace your pain or come out of it by helping others,”
he says.
Patricia Gagic, a Hamilton visual artist, is involved in local
international non-profit organizations, including Free The Children.
“Working for what is good becomes what love is, the kindness and moment
when you are embracing the feeling of helping someone and they respond
to you,” she says.
“Initially, it is about helping those who need basics, food and shelter and then the win/win occurs. We can help strengthen their culture to sustain their community for the future.”
Try this: Write down your three strongest qualities and three activities you most enjoying doing. Now add three values that give your life meaning. Think of one way that you could serve others by combining some of these and start now. What would be your first step?Dekyi-Lee Oldershaw, director of The Centre for Compassion and Wisdom
in Burlington, is coauthor of 16 Guidelines for Life, available at
website centreforcompassionandwisdom.com.
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