Adding impact to the first hybrid in-person/virtual meeting of Sycamore Rotary since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (see photos at bottom of newsletter), Sara Schairer, founder and executive director of “Compassion It”, gave her featured speaker presentation from her base in California. “Compassion It” is a non-profit organization with a global following seeking to promote a sense of freedom from suffering for all. Founded at a time when Schairer herself was going through some rough personal times, she says she was seeking that “feel good” glow that comes from demonstrating and receiving compassion. She began promoting “compassion” through bumper stickers, T-shirts, and ultimately a double-sided wrist band that can be flipped when delivering an act of compassion. The wrist band went “viral” on social media eventually finding advocates throughout the United States and in 50 different countries on six continents. More than 160,000 wrist bands have now been distributed. This led her to coursework at Stanford University and her certification as a facilitator in Compassion Training.
Schairer took Rotarians through an exercise of “feeling” compassionate. It provoked sensitivity outcomes such as peace, calm, and warmth. She also asked members to think about how they perceive people differently such as children, the elderly, nurses, teachers, lawyers, politicians, inmates, and dictators. Regardless, of power, status, competence, or even disdain, Schairer suggested that compassion for all is a way to overcome biases and negativity. More details are available at her organization’s web site: www.compassionit.com. Schairer was invited to speak by her cousin, Rotarian Jeff Jacobson.