My Journey Towards Compassion

Why is it that some people tend to be more caring and compassionate than others? I'm finally beginning to realize that it has nothing to do with a person NOT caring about what's going on in a friend/family's life, but more to do with the fact that some people have a hard time putting their feelings into words, thus they say or do "nothing" when a friend really needs some COMPASSION. Or perhaps they feel if they get too involved with a person's situation, it brings them too close to the reality that life has its trials and tribulations and that life here on this earth is not forever, and they don't want to "go there."


Webster's Dictionary defines COMPASSION as sympathetic consciousness (or awareness) of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. So, being conscious of someone's distress or something they are going through is one thing, but having the desire to alleviate it brings it back to "what can you do" personally to make a difference.

I have discovered from my journey through life thus far that it is the experiences and challenges I have faced that have helped me become more compassionate toward others. When my younger brother was killed in a tragic farm accident at the age of 40, I was devastated. These were tragedies that happened to other people, not our family. After all, I prayed every night for God to keep my family safe. I finally had to let go and realize that my brother WAS safe - in God's heavenly realm, but no longer here on this earth with his family. He left behind a loving wife and 3 precious children, the youngest who was the same age (7) as our daughter at that time. My parents were devastated losing their only son, as well as my dad's business partner in farming and painting (they were great friends). People do not like to talk about death, but we all need to realize that death is part of life. We need to be doing every day the things that we feel led to do. Each day is a precious gift that we cannot have back. As hard as it may be, it's important that we reach out to others who need our support. The words, "I care about what you are going through" or, "I don't know how you feel personally but I do care about you," will show them they are not alone.


Previous to my brother's accident and death, I had lost my first roommate out of college from liver cancer. She was only 21 years old. Everything happened so fast...she was diagnosed and passed away within six weeks. I had a hard time understanding why someone so young and vibrant could be taken away so quickly. She left behind a little 5-year old sister who would really never know her. This was also hard for me to accept. These events did something to me personally; they made me want to reach out to others who were going through a similar situation. They could have made me bitter and turned me away from God and my faith, but I knew that more than ever I needed God in my life, and that I also wanted so deeply to be able to reach out to those in similar situations. By experiencing these situations, I was drawn more and more to those who also were experiencing them, wanting to do something to help. Sometimes the best thing we can do for someone who is facing a tragedy is simply to pray for him or her. God hears our every prayer and cares even more deeply than we do. There is a power through prayer that is greater than anything we can do or say.


Shortly after my brother's death, I became involved with a nonprofit organization called "Amanda the Panda" which a woman had founded to help siblings/parents/family of those who had lost loved ones. She used this ministry to reach out to others and I felt compelled to help spread the word about what her organization was doing. I made myself get out of my comfort zone and joined a committee which presented her nonprofit organization to companies in town, ASKING them for $ to provide a way for the employees of these companies to have a support system such as Amanda the Panda. I would never have done this if it hadn't been for the fact that I was myself hurting from the loss of my brother and wanted to DO SOMETHING that would make a difference for others - to teach others to show compassion. Was it easy for me to do this? No, but it was the beginning of me realizing that even as just one individual, I could make a difference in the lives of others. I didn't want others to hurt by themselves, but to feel as though someone cared.

A few years later, my dad had some serious health problems and needed several major surgeries including open heart surgery. My parents spent several weeks at our home after Dad's surgery recuperating from this. My dad faced so much adversity in his life; yet he taught me that there is always hope and we should never give up. He always looked for the positive.... when he was hospitalized, he would spend time chatting with everyone at the hospital, not just the physicians and nurses, but also the housekeepers and maintenance workers. He treated everyone the same and I saw in him a deep compassion and love for all people; this compassion towards others drew others to him. This is how I wanted to be as well. He taught me that, despite any trial in life, there is always hope. One of the greatest compliments he gave me was telling me how he appreciated what I was doing to help him and my mom and how wonderful it was to have me for a "friend" as well as daughter. I'll never forget the emotion in that moment.

To help you start (or go forward) in your journey of nurturing relationships and showing more compassion, I'd love for you to join me in making a difference today by doing something which allows you to reach out to someone who needs a little compassion in his/her life. It might be an elderly person who rarely gets mail or maybe needs some specific encouragement. It might be a college student who needs some encouragement and support from a parent/grandparent, friend. Perhaps it's a service man or woman who is serving our country so that we can have the freedoms we so easily take for granted, while he/she and their family make this tremendous sacrifice for us. Perhaps it is someone who has lost a loved one and just needs to know that someone cares what they are going through. Whoever it may be, please take the time right now to reach out to that person who comes to mind....send them a note of love and encouragement; pick up the phone and call them, or simply say a prayer on their behalf. You CAN make a difference. I have a feeling when you start reaching out in this way, you may not be able to stop! Here's to COMPASSION and sharing it!

How to Get a Guy to Ask You Out Who's Out of Your League - Learn How to Be in His League

It could get really frustrating to know that the guy you're wishing to have wouldn't even look your way. Everyone seems to tell you that he's way out of your league. But is that where it all ends? Should you just listen to them and give up?


Lose hope and you lose.
Just because everyone says he's out of your league doesn't mean that he won't ever notice you! You could be a bit intimidated at the thought of a man who's way up there - but don't stop believing in yourself and what you can do! Let go of all insecurities so that you'll have a good chance at attracting him.


Let your personality radiate.
If you believe that you're a pretty woman, then all you have to do now is to impress the guy. Go out and party with the same crowd that he's hanging out with. This is one good way for him to finally notice you.

Pique his curiosity.
The more he sees of you, the more that he's going to see your best qualities. Keep putting your best foot forward and he would inevitably notice you. Strive to appear as a mysterious woman to him.


Show him that you're at par with the women in his circle.
Though others may see you as a notch or so lower than the women that he commonly dates, this shouldn't deflate your confidence. Strive to show him that you're equally pretty, equally intelligent, and equally bold. Soon, he'll realize that you're just as enchanting as all the other women he has adored in the past!

Talk with smartness.
Have enough courage to approach him and strike a conversation. This is a good way to make him notice you and how special you actually are. Don't focus on making blunders, focus instead on making a great impression because you are capable to mentally excite him.

Believe that you're no different.
If everyone believes that he's out of your reach, then believe that he's not - it's that simple. Believe that you're a diva - through and through.

Make him laugh out loud.
Though you may be discussing a serious topic, a person with a great sense of humor would find it easy to make funny comments along the way. This will make your conversation exciting. If you can make him laugh at your witty remarks, then you're halfway through in trying to win him.

Men, Is There Really Such A Thing As Good Pickup Lines?

You're out at a bar with your friends when suddenly, the woman of your dreams walks in. You gather the courage to walk up to her, then you smile and say, "Are you a thief? You seem to have stolen my heart."


What happens next? Does she laugh at you and walk away, or worse, throw the rest of her drink in your face? Most guys find the act of approaching and picking up women an almost impossible task. This is primarily because you've probably already formed the opinion that an attractive woman will never seriously consider an "average or normal" guy like you.

This way of thinking is what makes a lot of men hide behind what they believe are good pickup lines that are guaranteed to get them into conversation with an attractive woman. But then, are there really such things as good pickup lines that are guaranteed to work? Well, pickup lines can indeed serve the purposes of breaking the ice and starting a conversation, but they are not guaranteed to deliver the results you expect in and of themselves.


What do we mean by this? Well, this simply means that the manner in which you deliver your "lines" is more important than the actual words. In fact, a study done at the University of Chicago revealed that there isn't really such a thing as good pickup lines that are guaranteed to work. The same study showed that saying "Hi" or "Hello" can be the perfect introduction, as long as you do it in a casual and confident manner.

That's right, saying "Hi" in a simple and casual way, without any innuendo or hint of a hidden agenda is your best bet for starting a conversation with an attractive woman. You may then follow-up with a neutral question such as, "How do you like the band?" What's most important when you approach any woman is that you adopt the following traits and characteristics:

Be confident

Be spontaneous


Master the right body language and tone of voice; and, above all

Be natural

A pickup line, by itself, can be cheesy, funny, weird, or lame. But any line can actually work when it is delivered right. Bear in mind that there is no such thing as good pickup lines that work perfectly all of the time. There is, however, a right way to make even the simplest pickup line work anytime. The key is in having the right mindset and adopting the necessary traits and characteristics that will make the art of flirting come naturally to you.

The bottom line is that even the worst pickup lines can deliver the ideal results if you use them with confidence, spontaneity, and a healthy sense of humour. It is also important to be genuine because women have the uncanny ability to see through any pretension. You never know, the real secret to successfully picking up beautiful women could lie in a simple, five-letter word. To paraphrase what a movie character once said: You can actually have her at HELLO.

The Tips in Attracting a Girl

It happens to the many of us, that we like a girl and she does not know about it. She does not notice your smiles and is not attracted by your interest in her. You are just like a stranger to her. You made your plans to convince her in this regard and ask her for a date. You try to find out different ways to get her involved with you and made her agree on a date.


Now we come cross some of the successful tips that will help you to attract the girl.
1. First of all you should try to meet her with confidence. You have to be well prepared mentally and physically to approach her. But, try to understand that don't be extra involved in this stuff only maintain a good balance.

2. Your talk should be proper and to the point. Don't try to say the same sentences again and again. Speak in your natural style with over trying.
If you are lost in your own words, it's no problem. The girls not take it wrong. The only thing important in the conversation is the proper selection of the words. Don't ask a lot of questions in the introductory talk but should try to introduce you in an attractive way without flattering too much.


3. The girls have varying type of nature during the month and on special days they lost their temper quickly. Therefore, you should not irritate too much on those days.


Your initial move will decide that how the things will proceed. Therefore you should be kind and gentle to her. If she ever needs your help, do not hesitate to be her helping hand. She will definitely like it.
Don't be shy and try to know her as much as you can. This will help you in developing the mutual understanding to move forward.

Is There Any Way to Tell If a Man Has Had Thoughts of You Romantically? Solve This Mystery Now

To love and be loved in return is a feeling that all human beings crave for. And so if you're eyeing a man yet you're not quite sure if he's been thinking romantic thoughts of you, here's how to tell:

He eagerly pays attention.
No amount of distraction could peel away this man's eyes from you. He's too eager to hear what you need to say. You would also observe that he seems to have this glazed expression on his face as he looks up at you.



He asks for information about you.
Either he asks this directly from you or he would ask your closest friends to tell him any data concerning you. He's interested in knowing what your dreams and ambitions are, what you do with your spare time, and what activities you engage into.

He willingly escorts you around.
He chauffeurs for you; he even goes out of his way to carry your luggage and shopping bags; he's also the one who's out to open doors for you. No, he's not your slave, he's only trying to prove that he's the ultimate gentleman.



He always singles you out.
Since this guy is already consumed of romantic thoughts of you, he will do all he can to show you how much he cares each time he's given an opportunity to demonstrate his feelings. He is intimate with you but is just plain friendly with all other people.

He'll coax you to go out with him.
He will tell you all about the places that he has visited and that he's aching to take you to. He will come up with picnic expeditions and weekend getaways just so he could entice you to go with him.



You'll see him flirt.
Since his thoughts are of you, he will see to it that he'll win you with his flirting techniques. He would preen and impress you with everything that's lovable about him. He also won't be able to resist touching you because he's so consumed with his bottled feelings for you.

He'll detest competition.
If other guys start to get near you, this guy will try to take you away from them. He'll also make sure that you would be engrossed with him so that you won't be tempted to look at his competitors. In fact! You will see him getting jealous even if you talk to any other guys when he is around.

Best Ways to Make Your Boyfriend Happy? Use What You Have to Make Him Feel Wonderful All the Time

The biggest mistake girls make is to believe that unless they are drop dead gorgeous they will never be able to make their boyfriends happy! The truth is that you should just be able to impress him and keep him satisfied in every way. Once you do this, he will find himself thoroughly pleased with you and will not want to go in search of excitement elsewhere! Here are some key tactics to keep him happy.


Be confident of your own personal style
You don't have to copy someone else or try to be who you are not! He has to love you for who you are and accept you just as you are. Once you are yourself and he begins to love you dearly, he will be happy to be your guy. He will become captivated by you and your charming ways.

Be the girl who is most sought after
Most men love to show off their girls. If you want your boyfriend to be happy then make him proud. Make him want to flaunt you to all his friends and family. When he sees other men ogling you and looking at him in envy, you can be sure he will be thrilled to have been the one who got you!


Satisfy his desires and don't make him beg!
When your boyfriend is truly satiated and satisfied with you - physically and emotionally, he will have no cause to leave you in search of someone else. Don't make him beg for your favors, instead be understanding and accommodating so that he feels confident of your love and devotion. This will give him a huge boost and keep him happy.

Make him feel respected and admired
If you respect him and truly appreciate him and all that he does for you, he will feel content and happy to be with you. It is only when a man does not feel appreciated that he finds the relationship wanting! Make him thrill to your touch and feel special because of your tender loving care.

Don't criticize him
No man can continue in a relationship if he is being constantly criticized. He will be on edge and will find that he cannot relax when he is with you. If on the other hand you encourage and compliment him, make him feel sexy and attractive etc it will do wonders for his ego and he will be very happy to be with you.




Show him that you will stand by him
If you can prove to him through your behavior and attitudes that you love him enough to stand by him whatever the situation may be, then he will grow to trust and depend on you. This type of a relationship will keep him happy and satisfied. He will feel confident enough to face anything with you by his side.

Never cheat or flirt with other guys
It is automatic that a guy is thrilled and at peace in his heart when he knows that he has his woman's loyalty and faithfulness. If you give him your wholehearted devotion and attention, and do not flirt - not even a little harmless flirting - with other guys, he will be very happy and feel blessed to have you.

How to Be Absolutely Sure a Guy Likes You - Here's How to Figure Out What He Feels Towards You

You could spend a lifetime figuring a guy out and you might still come out to be an amateur when it comes to reading what's in his mind. If you want to ascertain what this guy is feeling for you, here are ways that you could find out:

He's nothing but calm when you're around.
Though he may want to behave confidently, you could still feel his uneasiness because your mere presence has a great impact on him. The closer you get to him physically, the more clammy and ashen white he gets.

He will pretend that everything's cool.
The last thing that this guy wants is to have his feelings become obvious. So he'll try to appear cool in front of you. He will try to impress you by cracking jokes or pitching comments on what you just said. He will have an unmistakable fondness for you.

He will always steal glances at you.
Try to see him through your peripheral vision. If he keeps looking at you when your attention is somewhere else, then this just proves that he's starting to like you. Try to flash a meaningful smile at him and he could very well blush like a tomato!

He doesn't just take glances, he also observes you.
There's more to his glances - this guy wants to find out if you're also feeling the same way about him. Do you also feel uncomfortable when he's around? Do you blush when you see him? Any significant change on your appearance will also be considered.

He will show you his best self.
What better way to show you that he likes you than to present his best self. He will behave like a true gentleman and he'll also be the most decent and good-looking man out there. He might even buy new outfits just to impress you.

He has a cheerful demeanor about him when you're around.
This guy seems to beam with excitement the moment you step into the room. He will greet you with gladness because he's just happy to have you around.

Watch out for his flirting moves.
This guy will move like a pro and he will try to win you with those artistic yet subtle flirting techniques. If he's not used to flirting, he might even end up embarrassing himself, but what the heck! This just proves that he likes you so much that he can't even get his pickup lines right!

If a Man Is Not Attracted to You, Would He Kiss You or Want to Kiss You? - A Guide to His Actions

A kiss is a very intimate thing as it sets the ball rolling for a relationship. But a man will not kiss a woman if he is not attracted to her. Here is what you can do to understand a man and build the attraction.

Men kiss when the moment is sensual
The anticipation of a kiss builds up in a man's mind not only when he finds the woman attractive but also when the moment is right. In order to get a man to kiss you along with attracting him to you, you also need to make
the moment feel sensual.





He needs to find the woman stimulating
Attraction is something that can be built. If you feel that your man is not getting attracted to you then all you need to do is look for ways to stimulate your guy to develop an interest in you.

When you create physical closeness
At times when you create a physical closeness with each other you can make a man feel attracted to you. Sitting close where he can smell you or where you can initiate some form of physical contact, without looking like you are trying, is going to help to make your man feel attracted to you and eventually kiss you.



When you can stroke his ego the right way
A man can begin to feel attracted to you when you know how to make him feel good about himself. This means learning how to stroke your man's ego the right way. Talk to him about his strengths and complement him intelligently and your man will begin to feel attracted to you.

You can attract him with your wit and humor
Attraction can also be developed when you use wit and humor. If your man sees that you have a lighter side, are open to letting your hair down and are not overly opinionated then he will begin to feel a connection with you. This will help a great deal when you want him to kiss you.

Build on the comfort levels
Some men are shy by nature. Such men need to feel at ease and comfortable with the woman they are with and once they reach this level of comfort they are willing to kiss her.


Don't appear desperate to please your man
If you want a man to kiss you who doesn't seem too interested in you then you have to keep off from appearing desperate for his attention.

How to Figure Out If He Cares? Follow These Tips If You Are Very Doubtful About His Intentions

Although you are dating a guy you are still not sure of his true feelings and you are constantly plagued by doubts as you want this relationship to succeed. This is one condition most women go through before they eventually settle down. Here are some questions that you have to ask yourself to see if he really cares about you.


How involved he is in your day to day affairs
If your guy is involved in your affairs and seeks an update on all that happens with you without intruding too much in your personal space then it means he does care about you. If he shows no such inclination then it means he does not care.

Is his devotion to you above board
He does not give the attention he gives you to other girls. When you are around he is totally fixated on you. This sign of devotion means that he truly cares about you and likes you.

Is he open about his affection for you
He does not hide his affection for you and in fact is very demonstrative about it. This also proves that he has nothing to hide and likes you and wants everyone else to know that too.

Is he there when you need support
Whenever you are in a tight spot you find him there ready to help you. At times even when you don't need any particular help he voluntarily helps you and does not expect any favors in return. If this is the case your guy definitely cares about you, in fact he loves you dearly.

Has he ever expressed interest in meeting your family
If your guy shows interest in your family and considers them his extended family then it surely means that he likes you and wants a future with you.

Is he possessive about you
Your guy does not like it when you act friendly with other males in his presence. You see a hint of sadness in his eyes when that happens. He wants you to be his only and this happens only when the guy is genuinely in love with you.


Where do you figure on his priority list
You occupy the top most spot in his list. Everything he does or plans to do is with your knowledge and your consent. This is a good indication that he loves you and will want to marry you in the near future.

Pay Close Attention Here-
Take 2 minutes to read the next page and you'll discover a stunning psychological trick which will show you- How to Captivate a Man, Make Him Fall in Love with You -- and Give You The World.