Compassion Camp:
Youth Extensions
Session 1: at the table
Compassion is a word younger children are just now learning, but you’ve probably known it for a long time. Now let’s spend some time taking your knowledge of compassion a step further. Listen to “The Cultivating Compassion Podcast” (4 episodes) and ask yourself these questions: Why is this called “Cultivating Compassion?” What is RLCF doing in Louisiana that’s unique? How could this be mimicked in our own community?
Session 2: to the neighbor
Listen to this podcast of OnBeing and ponder the question, “can anyone use the word ‘we’?” Reflect on what it means to be a part of “we” and “us.”
Watch the music video “What If” by India.Arie (Note: some adult language)
Imagine what if the people she names hadn’t taken their brave actions? How did their compassionate bravery make change happen? If there are people in the song you are not familiar with, take some time to learn their stories and the impact of their leadership. Reflect on the words “we” and “us” India.Arie uses in her song with what you learned from the OnBeing podcast. What kind of bravery and compassion can you show in becomming a “we” and an “us?”
Session 3: for myself
This session is all about having compassion for yourself! This might be a hard concept for many of us to grasp. Start off by watching the Ted Talk “Dare to rewire your brain for self-compassion” by Weiyang Xie:
Try the activity Dr. Xie suggests- keep a journal for just one day and write down all the negative thoughts you have about yourself. Then begin to ask yourself - am I sure these things are true? Am I saying them out of habit? How could I change each thought from a negative to a positive?
Download the App “Insight Timer” (it’s FREE!) and try one of their free guided meditations.
Check out these website for more guided meditation and fun:
Session 4: along the way
This session is about finding ways to fill the world and ourselves with hope. During this difficult time of social distancing as well as social justice upheaval in our country, we are all looking for ways to see hope in the world. Today you are challenged to help provide a little hope, because we are all in this journey together.
Check out the website: projecthopeexchange.com and follow the instructions to hear a message or two of hope.
Once you’ve listened to one or two messages, take a few minutes to write your own message of hope. Now it’s time to share it! Make a poster to put in the window of your house facing the street. Or go outside and draw your message in sidewalk chalk to share with the world.
Session 5: with the world
Today we are attempting to grow seeds of change and newness in the world around us. We want to take what we’ve learned this week out into the world and watch our compassion grow.
To make lasting change, we must talk about systemic injustices, learn and understand the story of how they came to be, why compassion is demanded of us, and why these systems need a fresh start. Here are links to resources about just a few oppressive systems:
Check out videos by The Story of Stuff. Watch and learn about the story of plastics, bottled water, cosmetics, and see what you can do to start fresh and help give the earth a rest
Become familiar with colonization from the Origin of Everything
Learn about the for-profit prison industry. Lamentably, the business model of for-profit prisons is spreading throughout the world. To learn about the prison system in the US context and how for-profit prisons came into existence, watch Why Do We Have Private Prisons? By Origin of Everything. In the show notes, you can find many helpful links, as well as great resources on restorative justice.
Take a look at Fast Fashion by reading What Is Fast Fashion, Anyway? and watching The Ugly Truth Of Fast Fashion (video contains some adult language)
What other systems can you think of that could use a fresh start?
Compassion requires inner work. Yes, these can be very uncomfortable conversations if you are new to them. But knowledge is power!