When I see pictures like these of really happy looking people, it tends to cheer me up and make me smile or even laugh along with them.
When I see images of people truly hurting and suffering, I can’t help but feel sad, too. The pain in their faces seems to crawl out of the picture and into my own heart.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the contagiousness of human emotions. When we see people hurting, it is natural to feel sad. When we are around people laughing and smiling we usually feel happier.
I am not saying we should ignore the pain and sadness in the world because it will hurt us too. In fact, I believe just the opposite. To have compassion on someone is to come alongside them in their suffering and share it with them. But to share our joy with others can be great, too. When we share suffering, we split it. When we share joy, we double it.
This one of my favorite videos ever. It is awesome to see people all around the world sharing in one of the most joyful expressions we have. DANCE!
So how do you feel now?
Filed under: Contemplations, Web | Tagged: dance, emotions, JOY, photo, sad, video
