Peace of Compassion

Dear Friend in Peace,

Audrey Hepburn’s name used to bring images to my mind of a beautiful, regal, slender woman who radiated poise, sophistication, and self-assurance in movie after movie. That was until my dear cousin Susan gave me the book, Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit. I was astonished and inspired to discover Audrey was also a fountain of compassion who thoroughly understood and lived our fundamental oneness with all our brothers and sisters.

As a very young child she experienced a life of luxury until WWII during which young Audrey and her mother lived in the Netherlands. Those were arduous times since they were under German occupation for all of WWII. It turns out Audrey’s extreme slenderness was due to years of malnutrition during the occupation. She spoke of eating tulip bulbs and staying in bed reading all day to distract herself from her extreme hunger.
As an older adult, she became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and explained her profound commitment to travelling around the world to help children in dire conditions even when she was in poor health herself:

“I can testify to what UNICEF means to children because I was among those who received food and medical relief right after World War II.”
Audrey Hepburn

Soon after becoming a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1988, she went on a mission to Ethiopia, where years of drought and civil strife had caused terrible famine.

“The 'Third World' is a term I don't like very much because we're all one world. I want people to know that the largest part of humanity is suffering.”
Audrey Hepburn

She travelled the world including Ethiopia, Turkey, Venezuela, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Somalia to bring food, hope, compassion and loving kindness to children in dire need. She walked her talk until she was too sick to travel.

"As you grow older, you will discover that you have
two hands, one for helping yourself,
the other for helping others.”
Audrey Hepburn

May we too use our hands to help ourselves and others however we can. May compassion open our hearts so that we, like Audrey, do everything in our power to help those in need, those being unjustly treated, those being discriminated against, and those living in fear in the United States and throughout our world.

Thank you for choosing peace in your thoughts, words, and actions.
Yours in peace and love always,
Donna

P.S.  Please pass on the peace by sharing this post with friends and family. They can join this mailing list, by writing to me at donnadday@gmail.com