I am grateful for the stillness life provides. A better understanding of self is a learning experience and I will bring more loving kindness into my life practice.

Growth.

Lovingkindness is a form of love that truly is an ability, and, as research scientist have shown, it can be learned. It is the ability to take some risks with our awareness — to look at ourselves and others with kindness instead of reflexive criticism; to include in our concern those to whom we normally pay no attention; to care for ourselves unconditionally instead of thinking, ‘I will love myself as long as I never make a mistake.’ it is the ability to gather out attention and really listen to others, even those we’ve written off as not worth our time. It is the ability to see humanity in people we don't know and the pain in people we find difficult. Loving kindness isn't the same as passion or romantic love, and it’s not sappy sentimentality. As I’ve said, we don't necessarily like or approve of everyone to whom we offer lovingkindness. Focusing our attention on inclusion and caring creates powerful connections that challenge the idea of an ‘us/them’ world by offering a way to see everyone as ‘us’.