Wow!!!! What a wonderful post. It gave me so much to think about regarding my own self and my point of view. And most importantly, it reminded me of how important it is to listen to each person’s unique experiences without trying to make them fit into some pre-conceived idea I carry with me. To me this is such an important component of compassion, and improving my compassion skills helps me be more of who I want to be. Thank you for sharing such personal experiences. I really loved this thoughtful and well-written entry.