Dear Mai:

You wrote: “we all react differently based on our experiences.. I grew up with hippieish parents who preached compassion and always putting yourself in someone else’s shoes”- excellent point. I grew up with a very angry, very judgmental mother who preached that other people are bad people. So, yes, you and I do react differently based on our very different early life experience.

Yes, I need to do this more: to put myself in someone else’s shoes, to practice more compassion for other people. On the other hand, I do intend to continue to see .. the good, the bad, and the ugly, as the saying goes, about myself and about others. I don’t want to be blinded to reality because of compassion. Example: abused people often feel compassion for the abuser, and therefore continue to avail themselves to the abuser, that’s a misplaced compassion.

Thank you for getting back to me. I hope to read more from you.

anita