OCT 17, 2014 – It was a rough summer at Cardthartic … we discovered that someone we’d trusted to be honest and decent, isn’t that at all. The company was made whole again but, months after, we still found ourselves hanging on tight to our anger.
Wanting to feel at peace again, I reached for a go-to book of mine ~ Sharon Salzberg’s Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. I’ve given many copies of this gifted Buddhist scholar’s book over the years, and often open it just anywhere because I find wisdom on every page. It’s also informed a number of favorite Cardthartic designs … Laughing Buddha’s card design became so popular that you’ll now find him and his message on a warm candle, along with boxed notes, magnet, pillow and tote!
Opening to the chapter on anger, I read, “Who is the one suffering from this anger? The person who has harmed me has gone on to live their life, while I am sitting here feeling the burning and constriction of anger. Out of compassion for myself ~ to ease my own heart ~ may I let go.” She continued, “Separate our vision of the person from the actions they have committed that upset and harm us. Try instead to get in touch with the part of them that deserves to be loved, because all beings are deserving of care, of well-being, of the gift of lovingkindness.
“Make an effort to turn our attention to any good we can find in a difficult person,” I read, “though we may be reluctant to try.” And, one of the reasons I admire Sharon Salzberg so much is that this highly-evolved woman admits: “The first time I was given the instruction to look for one good quality in a person I found difficult, I rebelled. I thought, ‘That’s what superficial, gullible people do ~ they just look for the good in someone. I don’t want to do that!’”
At this point in my reading I smiled in recognition, and felt my anger ease. Because, while I’m not superficial or particularly gullible, I am a card publisher! Looking for the good is what I do! What’s more, how great is it that anyone reading this likely does, too … I’m guessing you use our cards to get in touch with and express lovingkindness in your own lives, and out into the world. Very cool.
It’s been written that Buddha said, “In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?”
May your heart be filled not with anger but with love and joy today.
~ jodee stevens
founder & chief creative
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