Compassion

Some of my recent posts may seem to be harsh, and lacking in compassion.  I know the purpose of these posts, even if some disagree or don't understand.  But a friend posted this on FB this morning, completely unrelated to anything here, and I thought it was rather apt:

"We write a lot about kindness but less about its boundaries. Each person needs to set boundaries to helping others, though it can be painful. True compassion is sometimes involvement, at other times detachment. Many demand our caring, and our capacity is not infinite. 'No' is the word that grants you the freedom at times to wholeheartedly say 'Yes.'" -- Rabbi Wolpe

Sometimes, it is necessary to stop allowing the demanders to claim your attention, for their own good as well as yours.

Very true, and so eloquently put. We feel that urge to help everyone, but it can't be done, both because our resources are finite, and because there are those *****fuse our help.

Larra

 I know of a couple of people whose butts I'd like to tattoo that quote on.    There are too many people out there who think that the word "no," or, i.e. setting boundaries, means outright rejection or withdrawal of love.   I might have to use this quote as my FB status one of these days, but most likely, the people who most need to hear it are the ones who are least likely to "get" it.

Sorry, all I can think of is: how big a butt you'd need to tattoo that saying.  Although, it certainly would make an impression on the tattoo-eee.
(We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread)

You may want to check out traditional Maori Moko tattooing, they used to carve out bits of flesh to produce a relief effect on the tattoo. Hurts plenty I'm sure BWAAAAAHHHAHAHAH!

 But how are they going to read it if it's tattoo'd on their BUTT????? 

By taking their head out of their ass.

Larra

I've decided to treat my advice as a gift.

When you give a gift, it is no longer in your control. The recipient can do what they like with it.

So, I've decided to become indifferent to the outcomes. It is nothing I can control, anyway. If I hand you a hundred dollar bill and you choose to wipe your arse with it and flu**** down the toilet, it is a stupid waste, but I can't stop you.

This is how people stop being human beings and start being statistics.

People do what they can but some people, StephO for example, CHOOSE to become a statistic, anyway.

Oh well.

I've had enough tragedy in my own life without inviting Darwin Award winners to drag me into theirs.

Good point - true "altruism" (if such exists) requires that level of detachment from the donor.  I am not that completely evolved yet.

Well said. I'd like to add to others about you,specifically:

Diana sounds to some people in writing like a heartless monster. If you were to spend any time with her in person, that impression would change a lot. She is a Yiddishe Mama, the furthest possible thing from heartless. Even when she sets these absolutely vital boundaries, she's still going to fret (at least a little) about the people who don't/can't/won't get it and who go marching on their merry way.