Anita, first of all, I just caught wind of your ankle injury. I really hope it is just a sprain with no long term effects. After all there is that marathon coming up that I KNOW you want to run 🙂

As I read your post about my question, I found that it was solid and clear. That it is well thought out and thoughtful in a very considerate way. The clarity comes from an acute understanding that you have as well as a desire to make clear what it was that I want to know. I found it to be very compassionate and gentle. But… there’s always a but…I want you to know that those adjectives are not words that I have chosen. They are what I see in you, through text. Those words emanate from your heart and soul. I feel like a Guru asked me to open my eyes, and asked me, “What do I see?”. What I saw was what you gave me. I know you didn’t have to dig deep for that either. It is always in your hands always ready to give so freely, so unconditionally. So from my heart and soul, thank you.

What you said about…”I admire your extensive compassion and kindness (expressed in these forums) in spite of such monumental injustice and misfortune that you experienced” is really nothing special. My ability to manage events from once upon a time comes from my ongoing learning that I have no reason for me to invest my time nor effort in negative reminders and thought that were expressed by people who who lead an insulated life with regards to acts of kindness and love, as hubris as that may seem. I cannot tell you how many times I nearly lost my life, or the number of times that I SHOULD have lost my life in the Middle East. Out of those experiences was born a whole new perspective and appreciation for life. It makes me realize that we don’t have tomorrow, or next week, or even an hour from now. All we have is now. So it is through that realization that I try to not take for granted my time on earth. So with that time, I try my best to, (I’m stuck here) I try my best to live better. One of the key things that helps immensely is your unselfish yet gracious giving from your heart. Thank you for getting back to me. I do appreciate it. Don’t forget that marathon you are so ready to run 🙂

Pearce Hawk