As I sit to write this Newsletter I can’t help but think about the announcement on the news of the Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the fact that they have a young family who they now have to help understand what is happening.
Lots of families will be going through the same process. Young children having sick parents and
almost becoming carers, carers among siblings, carers for the parent who isn’t sick, and carers for the extended family who are all affected in these situations.
Over and above the announcement, there has been so much speculation about the Prince and Princess of Wales, due to her absence from public life, and how this speculation has probably meant she felt forced to appear and make the announcement. It made me think about how nobody knows what is going on in other’s lives,
ever. We make judgements about people based on behaviours, actions, hearsay, second guessing, without really knowing. The problem with this is that it can be damaging to individuals and their lives, so it leads me to think how important showing compassion to others is.
The media definitely don’t use compassion in any of their reporting of issues, and certainly haven’t done so with Prince and Princess of Wales over the last few weeks, with all sorts of stories appearing
in headlines and on news items. Using the words a quote from a close friend of the royals as the get-out clause with their reporting on this occasion hasn’t worked, as nobody really knew what was happening, other than very close family members.
I feel like in general in society in these times, compassion for others falls short. Yes we have big national fund raising events, such as Comic Relief and these are great and provide help for many, but compassion for
others is more about being kind, thoughtful, giving space, time, and caring, putting ourselves in other’s shoes, and being understanding rather than judging and speculating.
I feel very passionate about compassion, as I was taught a lesson by my Mum at a very early age, when I said I didn’t want to play with a little girl because she looked like she didn’t wash, and was a bit smelly! My Mum gave me a talking to, about how this little girl was the eldest of 5 small children,
who she helped her Mum to look after, and how because of this she didn’t always get to wash and change her clothes, because she was too busy taking care of others. My Mum told me that I should feel lucky, and that by playing with her it was the one opportunity that this little girl had of having a friend and getting to play rather than looking after her baby sisters and brothers. In other words my Mum wanted me to understand not judge, be kind and appreciate that it was the once chance for this
little girl to play like other little girls and boys, and that I was the one to give her that chance.
I think about this often, and it makes me work hard not to pre-judge, not to speculate, but to understand and show compassion, to others. Wouldn’t it be great if what has happened this week made the media think and act differently in the future … I’m not confident it will change, but there’s always hope, and I do hope that Catherine, Princess of Wales gets the treatment
and the outcome that everyone would want.
Have a great week — keep moving, looking, and feeling good.
With love,
Jane xx