Friday, March 18, 2011

What I've learned.

I have learned a great deal working at a homeless shelter -- about myself, about people, about how I am in the world, about how I want to be in the world.

I have learned about compassion and being true to my beliefs, about standing up, in love, for what I believe in, about standing in a space for others to hold their beliefs as their truth without fighting for that space.

I have learned about compassion and caring and softening my heart.

I have learned the difference between the need to not fight to change people, and the need to fight to change the world.

I have learned that change begins with me. That I truly am, as Ghandi exhorted, the change I want to see in the world.

There is so much I have learned from people who have nothing to give yet who give so much. There is so much I have been given.

The gifts are many and all of them count in creating within me the change I want to see in the world.

And today, that change begins with my favourite meeting of the week. Every Friday morning at 7:30 I meet with another woman who works in the sector. A woman who inspires and challenges and encourages me, as I do her, to create more of what we want in the world. We talk about heart matters, we share our triumphs and our tribulations and, we inspire each other to create change, to be the change, to embrace the evolutionary nature of our beings.

Must run!

Thank you everyone for dropping by and chatting. For commenting. For sharing your stories. I am blessed.

Nameste.

9 comments:

Maureen said...

You have a rich and full life.

Have a great weekend.

katdish said...

"I have learned the difference between the need to not fight to change people, and the need to fight to change the world." - Boy, that's a big one isn't it?

Thanks for this post. I appreciate you sharing your heart.

Hope said...

sounds like a wonderful person to meet with. Have a wonderful day and weekend, Louise!

S. Etole said...

Have an inspiring, creative week-end!

Anonymous said...

Agree,"the need to not fight to change people, and the need to fight to change the world" is a big one! Your meeting with inspiration, encouragement and challenge, sounds motivating, great way to end the week and start the weekend.
Inspired by you,
BA x

trisha said...

you have taught us a lot too louise.

lots of love.
trisha

Claudia said...

i agree with maureen - you have a rich and full life - and a heart of gold..

Anonymous said...

LG....

it's saturday morning ... noon soon, but no column today!!.. are you taking the day off?

as I read Friday (and several previous columns) it occurs to me that you are morhphing from story teller to teacher/philosopher

you could sit, on a hillside, along with Socrates and Aristotle and clearly hold your own

Happy weekend,

Mark

Ruth said...

So good to have a friend to do that with. You're a wonderful, open human being. So much pours in, and out. Thank you.