Several years ago, I had the good fortune to meet a WCSU professor, Christopher Kukk, who also authored The Compassionate Achiever. I often review some chapters of his book that I find helpful when working as your First Selectman.
Compassion is a virtue that incorporates empathy, kindness, and understanding towards others. Compassion transcends cultural, religious, and other boundaries helping to connect all of us. It centers on recognizing the distress and hardship of others and seeking to help minimize those impacts. Compassion is not just an emotion; it is a hope for positive change. It requires us to take action, whether by offering words of kindness, lending a hand, or just listening. It fosters a sense of unity and can result in both the giver and receiver realizing a positive feeling.
In today’s world of conflict and vitriol, compassion, if allowed, is our beacon of hope! It invites us to look beyond our differences, to find a common ground, where we can achieve greater understanding and cooperation. It is an asset that can build bridges to new relationships. Ultimately, compassion is a basic building block for a more compassionate Ridgefield. It reminds me that we all share this world and our community. Most importantly, we have the ability to make Ridgefield a kinder and more caring place for us all.