I did not ask to be given this life, but it is the one, the only one, I have been given. There is no chance for a refund, a part-exchange, or an upgrade. This is it.
For this I deserve compassion.

I did not choose the family I was born into. I did not make a choice to choose the wisest, most able, richest, most loving parents, living in the most beautiful house, in the most beautiful part of the world. I was given the parents I have got, who gave me the start in life that I had. They did not choose me either, but I am who they got.
For this I, and they, deserve compassion.

I did not choose the body I was born into. My body is the result of 200 000 years of human evolution and is an amazing and wondrous machine. But it is still a machine that has weaknesses. When I was born my body was not fully grown and ready to go. I had to spend many years in the early parts of my life with a body that was not yet fully strong and healthy. Yet my body still had to deal with all that Life threw at it.
For this I deserve compassion.

I did not choose the mind I was born with. Evolution created the marvellous and extraordinary thing that is the human mind. But the mind has its limitations. When I was born my mind was not fully developed and fully aware. I had to spend many years in the early parts of my life with a mind that was not yet fully developed. There were so many things I had to learn, remember and understand (believing that all I read, was told, or heard was true) and in this immature state my mind still had deal with all that Life threw at it.
For this I deserve compassion.

In the middle years of my life when my adult body is at its physical peak it will still have its vulnerabilities and it will still have to deal with all that Life throws at it. In these middle years when mentally I am at my best I will still, on a week-to-week, day-to-day, moment-to- moment basis, be taking many decisions and making many choices on the basis of incomplete, or imperfect information. Sometimes I will make mistakes. Sometimes I won’t make the best of choices.
For this I deserve compassion.

In the later years of my life when my aging body and mind are in decline, I will not only be facing Life’s challenges, but will also have the challenge of dealing with what Life throws at me with a mind and body that are past their peak. Sometimes there will be things I am no longer able to do well, even do at all, for myself or those I love.
For this I deserve compassion