Showing Compassion Changes YOU

Bringing Love and Caring Back Into Your Life

Linda Spangle

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Older person holding hands with younger person
Image by lustreart, 123rf.com

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my life that I forget how to care about others. But during times when I show compassion to another person, I realize it changed my own life.

In our small town in Iowa, we live next to a row of duplex condominiums. While walking my dogs past these homes, I have met several of our neighbors, including Amber, a single mom raising a teenage daughter.

A couple summers ago, I noticed Amber had trimmed some of her trees but left the branches and leaves in a random pile next to the curb.

For branches to be picked up for recycling here, they have to be cut into four-foot lengths and grouped into bundles tied with string. But week after week, the ragged pile of branches sat on the lawn next to Amber’s driveway.

Finally, I decided to do something nice for this neighbor. So I gathered my tree trimmers, a rake, a broom, and a ball of twine and headed to Amber’s home. For the next couple of hours, I cut the branches into short lengths and tied them in bundles.

Then I raked up the leaves and debris and put them into a special bag that city staff would pick up with the trash. Finally, I swept the leftover grime off Amber’s driveway and sidewalk, then gathered my tools and…

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Linda Spangle

Author and weight-loss coach who loves to write, sing, act silly, drink wine, have deep conversations . Breast cancer survivor. www.weightlossjoy.com