Compassion For All

I look up to a lot of people at Silent River Kung Fu, and I happened to be talking to one of them just the other day. In my eyes, this individual is a strong person, with confidence in themselves and their abilities. They are a talented martial artist, a fine example of discipline and the type of person who works hard to achieve their goals. This person holds high standards, and trains hard to maintain a high level in their kung fu. I have always felt that this person is someone I can turn to as an example of how I should be, in my quest to better myself.

I was absolutely shocked to hear some of the things they told me the other day. The person I see is not the same person that they see in themselves. In my eyes, this person has a strong base of martial arts knowledge. They have kept up with the required curriculum. In their opinion, they have a lot to do to get caught up and be at the level they should be.

This person is confident and a strong leader, and someone well liked and respected. They, however shared with me how they feel very uncomfortable when they come to class, sometimes like they don't belong. Of all the things this person shared with me, this shocked me the very most. I felt that as a fellow martial artist, I had let this person down. I have always thought of myself as a very compassionate person. I now realize that I am sometimes compassionate and reach out only to those who I feel need me to. I tend to "ignore", for lack of a better term, the people that I feel have a high level of self confidence, and Knowledge. I like them, and am friendly to them, but I think I tend to take more from this type of person than what I give. Why? I don't think that they need anything from me. I don't feel I have anything to give them.

This was a real eye opener to me. We are expected to put on a face when in public, and act as if our world is all that it should be. So then, how am I to know when people need me, or are hurting, or feeling as if they are not one of the "family"? I guess that's not important for me to try and judge. What is important, is that I befriend everyone, whether I feel they need me to or not. I should extend a helping hand and a compassionate heart to ALL of my fellow martial artist. Not just the ones I choose to.