This Week's Word to Live By:

Print* these images and use as a coloring meditation at the end of your day.

*To print, click on image. When larger image opens, right click (or control+click on Mac), save to your desktop. Then open and print.

Loving-kindness is an outpouring of gentleness, tenderness and understanding which arises from the forethought of the needs of those outside oneself. 
It is selfless, and an expression that recognizes the needs of another. It holds out no expectation for anything in return.

Contemplate Through Your Week:

" Do your words express
gentleness, sweetness
and caring? "

Read my Musing on Kindness

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Opportunities for Practice:
~ Your partner gets laid off from their job.
~ A friend, who has no family close by, is in the hospital recovering from a surgery. 
~ A co-worker you do not get along with takes time off to deal with the death of a pet, leaving you with extra responsibilities.
~ A homeless person is standing at the freeway exit with a sign “anything helps.”
~ Someone with a different political view than you posts on Facebook something that triggers anger in you

Every time we encounter another person dealing with a difficult situation it is an opportunity to be generous with thoughts, words and actions. Understanding can arise by considering that person’s situation, putting oneself in their shoes, and seeing the situation from that perspective. It can be difficult, especially if negative emotions are triggered. The practice is to notice the emotions that arise in the given situation, and then to make an aware choice of response based on loving kindness instead of personal emotion.

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More Words to Live By:
          Compassion
       Equanimity