Mudita – finding joy in the joy of others

Mudita — something we should all work towards.

Picnic with Ants

“Mudita is a word from Sanskrit and Pali that has no counterpart in English. It means sympathetic or unselfish joy, or joy in the good fortune of others.” (1)

I bring up Mudita now because those of us who are sick often find it very hard not being able to participate in celebrations this time of year.  We feel we are stuck on the outside just looking in, and as we look in we are envious.  We can’t feel joy.  Mudita is the opposite of envy.  When we feel mudita we feel joy in the joy of others.  We are genuinely happy that others are having a good time, even though we can’t join them.

This feeling doesn’t happen over night.  It’s hard to overcome those feelings of envy.  We don’t want to feel this way, but we have to admit, that’s the way we often feel when things come…

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Mindfulness Monday 29

I’m late reblogging this week. Mindfulness Thursday?

Picnic with Ants

image by w. holcombe

“Did I offer peace today?
Did I bring a smile to someone’s face?
Did I say words of healing?
Did I let go of my anger and resentment?
Did I forgive?
Did I love?
These are the real questions.”

~Henri Nouwen

“Peace is accepting today,
releasing yesterday,
and giving up the need to control tomorrow.”

~Lori Deschene

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Finish Off Fridays # 4 : Holiday-themed

More self promotion. Another mlmm prompt — this for flash fiction.

Mindlovemisery's Menagerie

It’s Finish off Fridays (FoF) time again – the flash fiction writing prompt that alternates with Sanaa’s Friday Music Prompt.

I provide the picture and the opening sentence, you write an additional 100 to 150 words to complete the story. Since it’s almost Christmas, three prompts this week. Hope you find one to your liking.

Please include the picture and the opening sentence in your post, tag it Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie, Finish off Fridays, flash fiction. Create a link (ping-back) to this post, and don’t forget Mr. Linky awaits your click.

When the comet hit, the town lit up like a Christmas tree.  Image: Tim Mossholder via UnSplash

Or

Sister Bernadette’s last dash to the mall before Christmas had unforeseen consequences.

Or

Dan liked to play cupid at office Christmas parties. Image: Hans via Pixabay

Wishing you all the best of this festive season, and hope to see you FoFing in the new year.

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