The Compassionate Community

I've been ruminating about InfoSciPhi's recent and moving post about suffering and compassion. I very much respect and admire his forthrightness and honesty in talking about both his difficult experiences with his family members and what he has learned from them. InfoSciPhi's stories about his brothers have sparked some amazing dialogues on Twitter and FriendFeed, in which people express their support and empathy for him and his family.

During the past couple of weeks, others in my online communities have disclosed similar struggles. In one case, the recent suicide of a family member. In another, a child's attempted suicide. I have participated in several thoughtful and meaningful discussions about how mental illness directly effects each of us with folks in the LSW Meebo Room. I am reminded that suffering and mental illness is part of all of our lives, even those folks who seem so very together, professional and well-adjusted. In two days, it will be the thirteenth anniversary of my brother's suicide. For several years prior to his death, we had witnessed with horror and shock as John lost bits and pieces of himself to schizophrenia. While I still feel a painful ache, like a missing limb, I am no longer quite so angry with him. Time has changed my experience of loss.

As InfoSciPhi says, each of us can choose how we respond to traumatic events that are beyond our control. I am proud and moved that my peeps in Libraryland have responded to him with kindness and compassion.