Summary: Compassion is the ability to put ourselves into the shoes, paws, wings, or hoofs of another. Compassion means “to feel with”. With the exception of sociopaths, compassion is an innate emotion that we all experience. Compassion is frequently identified as the most important core human quality.<br> <br> We are all born compassionate. The seed of compassion resides permanently in our hearts as a reminder that we are all connected. Compassion is the greatest expression of love.<br> <br> As we move through life conditioned by parents, teachers, authority figures, and culture, compassion is squelched, fragmented, and compartmentalized. We’re taught to hear but not listen; speak but not act; think but not feel. We’re taught to conform, consume, comply. We label, we fear, we judge…we separate.<br> <br> This is not who we are.<br> <br> The human heart has the capacity to hold an enormous amount of love and compassion. By our very nature, we are compassionate. Anything less that that is the lie we’ve bought into to separate us from life. The reason we do what we do to those we perceive as other is because we’re asleep at the wheel.<br> <br> But we are not separate. We’re autonomous expressions of a greater whole in an interconnected world. We have the choice to live the lie or not. We’re the ones who created it. We’re the ones who can un-create it. Just as we’ve chosen ignorance, so too can we choose truth. The most important thing that we can do in our lifetime is to dare to care about the sacredness of life for all living beings.<br> <br> This week’s Unplug podcast conversation is all about daring to care in an uncaring world by putting compassion into action.<br> <br> Ashley Fruno has dedicated her life to being a voice for the voiceless. Her commitment to the creation of a better world for animals is steadfast. Her commitment to truth unwavering.<br> <br> For the past eight years, Ashley has worked as a senior campaigner for PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Asia-Pacific office in Manila, Philippines. She’s no stranger to the plight of animals. From educating people about the benefits of a compassionate vegan lifestyle to rescuing animals in the aftermath of environmental disaster, Ashley has been there. In 28 years of life, Ashley’s been witness to both the worst and best in humanity. Her heart remains strong and pure throughout. This is the transformative power of compassion.<br> <br> There is so much more to Ashley Fruno than her work with PETA however. This week’s conversation explores passion, courage, compassion, love and purpose. It touches the very essence of what it means to be a human being with a calling that makes the world a better place.<br> This week we speak about:<br> <br> • Love them or hate them, how PETA doesn’t exist to make friends. They exist to make people think in a more compassionate way.<br> • How we should never hesitate to give back to the world to make it better.<br> • Inspiring compassion through the power of example.<br> • The single most effective choice we can make to help animals is to choose vegan.<br> • The power of the word NO.<br> • The importance of focusing on small victories for greater change.<br> • Remaining grounded in sanity through ruthless self care.<br> • How relationships with dogs make us better people.<br> • How we have the ability to make the world a better place with every choice we make in every day of life.<br> • How living in fear of judgment perpetuates the destruction of our world.<br> <br> I love powerful quotes and I found the perfect quote that epitomizes Ashley as follows:<br> <br> “Say how you feel, leave the job you hate, find your passion, love with every ounce of your bones, stand up for the things that matter, don’t settle, don’t apologize for who you are. Be brave.”<br> <br> Enjoy this week’s show with Ashley Fruno,
