Each July, my body reminds me that August is the month when I lay half dead on the side of the road after my car rolled seven times off the 101 freeway.

Even this July—14 years out— part of my body tenses up as it implicitly remembers the pain and trauma it went through in August 2011. And yet, another part of my body courses with energy and joy. Yes, I was half dead on the side of the road, but an off-duty fire captain happened to see my car rolling off the freeway. He was moved with compassion, came to my aid when I was trapped and unconscious in my car, cleared my airway, and stabilized me on a piece of plywood ( which just happened to be on the side of the road) until the ambulance arrived. Years later, I learned that this fire captain didn’t even think I would make it to the hospital alive; had he not been there, I would have died on the spot.

My body is filled with gratitude that not only am I somehow still breathing, but I’m full of life and hope (even while I’m imperfect and imperfectly healed). And I’m on texting basis with Joe, this kind man who saved my life.

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What a gift it is when people are moved with compassion, and act on it. I made this connection recently, while we were talking about the Good Samaritan at church. The “Good Samaritan” parable is a story about a man who was beaten almost to death and left on the side of the road. Two different people saw him and kept going, but the third passerby, a Samaritan, was ‘moved with compassion’ and stopped to take care of the man (Luke 10:27-35).”

I’d actually read this Bible story many times, but it wasn’t until this particular Sunday at church- when we were asked to take the perspective of the man who was beaten- that I realized what a gift it is to be shown compassion. For him, being shown compassion saved his life. It was shortly after I made this connection about this half-dead man that I realized my story is not too far from his. The gift of mercy is truly a powerful thing.

This is a video I made after church that Sunday:

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A post shared by Robyn Broadus| LMFT (@robynbroadus)

Maybe it can feel like being kind and compassionate to other people (or ourselves) is not really that big of a deal. But it’s a huge deal. It can be a life-or-death kind of thing, both literally and figuratively. 

Of course, we cannot show compassion to everyone. If and when we are moved with compassion, though, let’s act on it!! (Maybe that’s a good guide for us?).

Miracles happen today. And sometimes miracles happen through the gift of compassion. Thoughts?   💗

For More:

• Our bodies do, indeed, remind us of past traumas and stressors. If you’re interested in learning more about how trauma impacts the body, I highly recommend The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk.
• If you’re reading this post in your email, click on “Read on blog” (in the top right corner) to view the video embedded from Instagram. Note: You do not need to have Instagram in order to view it on my website. (And if you do have Instagram, of course you can also view the video directly on the IG platform).
• If you know someone who might enjoy these posts, please share my website with them. They can add their email address at the bottom of the site, or you can contact me, and I’d be happy to add them.

Disclaimer: While I am a LMFT, the content of my blog is for educational and inspirational purposes only! And not meant to substitute individual therapy. If you’re looking for a therapist, think I might be a good fit ( and you and I do not know each other), please feel free to connect with me on my therapy page. If you’re looking for a therapist (and you do know me), please reach out and I can help you try to find a therapist. Psychology Today is a great starting place, too. Sending you warmth and care.