Well, it’s not much, but when I am on the bus in the morning, I will often pray for all of us. “May we be safe, may we be happy, may we live in peace.” I hope I am at least spreading some good vibrations.

I feel deeper and wiser for having read all of these offerings, all of which I admired and learned from. I will add only that – like family, love, fear, imagination, sex – forgiveness becomes more of a multi-layered mystery as I get older. I don’t pretend to understand it.

Better communication. If I am angry or hurt, explain this to the person this involves, NOT someone else. Limit my conversation to this specific event, do not bring up past events. Listen to the other person. Do this with as good a heart as I can, then let the bad emotion go! Alas, I am almost 60 and have not achieved this. But this may be the year I do!

I want to learn to bear witness to the billions of animals suffering in factory farms and dying is slaughterhouses. I don’t know how to do this yet. Do I speak out about abominations that no one wants to know? How can I bear witness with compassion for both animals and people? I hope to figure this out with God’s help.

Rachel Carlson, Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall come to mind immediately.

“The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Respect all life. Keep a non-violent diet. Pray for those humans who work in factory farms and slaughter houses where the “kill line” must keep going no matter what. Many of these humans develop PTSD. Have a veggie burger tonight!

For years, the writer and poet in me was waiting for the “big break.” I’m not anymore. I’m more grateful for my daily life than I have ever been, and I think my ego is a little less needy than it used to be. I still have it, though! After all, we’re on a human plain here and we do need egos.

Yes, thanks for being frank! It IS hard not to expect kindness from a person when you go out of your way to be kind to them.

Thank you Rhonda!

You are so right, John. Listening is a great gift. It’s sacred, and one writer whose name escapes me said that listening is the beginning of the spiritual.

Making a good meal for loved ones is no small thing, Kristen!

Thank you, Sheila! I’m vegan and I am proud of this, plus it’s a joy to me that my diet is non-violent, but – like you – I worry about coming off as self-righteous and judgmental. In the end, I have to figure out how best to serve the animals. Haven’t figured this out yet!

Hot Sauce, my veganism is so important to me – it’s truly part of my religion, and I never felt healthier plus I lost weight without even meaning to! I am finally living my values and that means everything. Don’t be too hard on yourself as you make this transition. It literally took me years. For me, the more I read about the animals and educated myself about how most are raised and slaughtered, the more resolve I had. Congratulations on this wonderful decision.

Well said, Palm!

That is very insightful – “reach out for help more often.” It takes courage to ask for help. I, too, would ask for help more often if fear did not hold me back.

I have a placemark for that book at my local library, Palm! Small world, eh?

Yes, Aine, I am indeed pleased, thank you for sharing!

God bless you for doing this, Deb, you don’t know what a profound difference you may be making!