While world events are happening at a dizzying rate, more and more people are awakening to the need for positive change that represents the kindest aspects of humanity. The call to show up each day as our best self that expresses inclusive love and compassion is growing stronger. Perhaps this is what Confucius meant when he said, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
Imagine the hopeful impact if we were to all commit to adding more heart wherever we go by increasing our care, compassion and tolerance of other’s viewpoints.
When we intentionally add heart wherever we go, we are positively impacting the energetic environment around us. With every kind word spoken and every compassionate or caring action, we contribute to co-creating a new world based on heart values that heal, and nurture others as well as our self. To illustrate beautifully what adding heart can accomplish, we want to share with you a couple stories about people who are dedicated to doing exactly that. These individuals were recently recognized by the HeartMath®Institute with the institute’s first Humanitarian Heart Awards. They were honored for their compassionate and caring heart work, giving aid, comfort, shelter and hope to many around the world.
These stories can inspire and remind us that wherever we go, the heart we add to each interaction and each situation truly matters.Majd KamAlmaz, Humanitarian Heart Award Recipient
n 2012, Majd KamAlmaz, recognized a huge shortage of professionals to help Syrians fleeing their war-ravaged country, so he established refugee aid centers in Lebanon and Jordan.
KamAlmaz, who spent his childhood in Southern California, devoted many years helping people in need in various parts of the world, including war-torn Kosovo and Indonesia, following the devastating 2005 tsunami there. He said he was compelled to help Syrian refugees when their mass exodus became a humanitarian crisis. He has been providing stress-management education to refugee children and adults and helped to build intervention and field work teams among other efforts.Tammy M. Cunningham, Humanitarian Heart Award Recipient
It took five years for Tammy M. Cunningham to recover from the death of her 2½-year-old son and embark on a journey that led to co-founding a nonprofit foundation that has touched thousands of lives.
Cunningham was honored for her and her late husband’s efforts in establishing the nonprofit internationally recognized Cunningham Foundation when they were living in Colorado. The foundation partners with the people of Ethiopia in organizing and initiating sustainable development projects. These projects include the Hope Bracelet Project, Quarters for Kids, Kids Helping Kids and the Ethiopia Library Project.
Adding more heart qualities to all of our life’s interactions and the environment is something we can each do. It costs nothing, yet it is one of the most valuable contributions we can make for co-creating a world we want our children to live in.
