Compassion As A Natural Response - June 05

Simple acts of kindness ripple far and wide. In today’s 5 Minutes In Nature, Liz finds herself in the heart of London, noticing the quiet web of kindness in action all around her. She reflects on how, when people are connected to their own settled inner space of love, compassion becomes a natural response. Kindness is not simply about “doing a good deed” — it is an expression of love moving through us.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Five Minutes in Nature with me, Liz Scott. I am right in the heart of the city of London. We are heading home today and we've come to Paddington Station. And this is a real surprise. We're nice and early so we thought we would have a bit of breakfast near the station and we've discovered what's called Little Venice and it's a canal that goes right beside the station. I didn't know it existed. There are barge boats here. There are places to have something to eat. There are people walking, Jogging, Walking dogs. It's a real little peaceful haven. It's gorgeous, Actually. And on our journey here today, I want to tell about the situation that happened, Which really touched me and made me reflect. So we were on the bus. We caught a bus from North London into Paddington, Where the station is here. And I really enjoy catching buses because when I'm in London if I go on the underground I never really know what the scenery is and what the landscape is of London so a bus is a great way to actually see what's going on. And I was happily gazing out the window and my husband was sitting beside me and then he suddenly leapt up because there was an old lady struggling to get off the bus. She had a very heavy trolley with her and just by sheer fluke of the bus had stopped. It had stopped on a rather difficult slope and so my husband got off the bus, Helped her with her trolley. She was very frail and a little bit unable to get her balance. I was half on the bus, Half off the bus, Thinking, Oh, Please don't let the bus drive off with all our cases on it. And there was a couple of people walking by, And they paused and said, Oh, Can we help? And we said, Yes, We've got to get back on the bus. Could you just help her get her balance? And she's quite an independent lady, Reminded me of my mum, Actually. And she obviously just wants to head on back home. But that little interaction of kindness is what really struck me in so much as my husband from his place of settled well-being. He saw someone in need and it wasn't that he did, He didn't jump up because he was a good citizen and it was the right thing to do. It just didn't make sense not to help her. And that's what I really see in what we share and what I share with you is that as we fall back into and explore that place of love within us and as we have a relationship with that place of love. When we see people who are struggling or who are in need. . . It just makes complete sense to help them. We're coming from a place of love. It's not something we're doing because we are a good citizen. We do it because the action itself comes from love. And what I also really liked about this little incident was that the lady behind us, Who had her daughter with her, I heard her sort of say to her daughter, Gosh, Look, It just goes to show there are kind people out there. And then as she got off the bus, She just turned to my husband and said, Thank you so much for helping that lady. That was really good of you. And again, I just kind of realized that there is a lot of kindness out there. There is a lot of people who are in their well-being, Looking to support others in their well-being. And for you, It's just reminding you that all those little acts of kindness, However small, Make a difference. And they don't just make a difference to the person involved. They make a difference to those that witness them. And those that witness them are also part of that web of kindness. Kindness. So let me know your reflections on those acts of kindness. In particular what I really want to share though is that as you, I, We look within and have a relationship with our inner space of love and well-being, Then from that space we automatically respond with love, To love, From love. And that's a really special place to explore. Let me know your reflections and of course don't forget to join me for another five minutes in nature. The next time you hear me I'll probably be back on my beloved Dartmoor and really looking forward to getting back home. Join me again tomorrow.

Reviews

Thanks Liz for this story about the every day moments in life that we can connect with others and make them feel someone has noticed their needs.
What I will take away is that witnessing or seeing someone do these kind acts also is uplifting. How often have I watched someone do a kind act and it’s made me smile, a real ripple effect 🌸

I love this Liz! Acts of kindness and compassion create a wonderful ripple effect and feel so good to both the receiver and the giver. Fortunately I feel there are more people that are ready to jump in and help than not!

Thank you for sharing this experience and perpetuating the ripple 💗🙏

Great reflection. If only more people would be led by the inner being.

I was part of a similar act of kindness moment involving a young woman in store check out line and my five-year-old granddaughter. It provided me with a wonderful opportunity to talk with my granddaughter about acts of kindness and to encourage her to pay it forward. Even at five, perhaps because she IS five, she gets it. 💕 Hope for us all.

That story of the bus reminds me of my mother. Through late sixties and 70's she would take a bus from the seniors tower she lived in to go shopping.

She used a walker in the later years and had told me many similar stories. Up into her early 80's she was the Bus Ambassador in the tower and taught new tenants many recently widowed and did not drive how to use the public transportation. She would ride with them and show them how to find their stops and how to get around and home safely.

Safe travels home Liz. ✌️❤️🚌