empathy

Bonhomie

I love people
Who carry kindness calmly,
Like a small light in their hands …
They do not wait for applause
They simply move through the world
With softness in their voice
And calm in their heart …

I admire those
Who naturally have morals and manners
Not because someone taught them to perform goodness
But because respect lives inside them
They greet people warmly
Listen without rushing
And leave others feeling valued …

I notice people
With self awareness and common sense
They pause before speaking
They understand that words can stay
Inside someone for a long time
So they choose honesty with care
And silence when silence is kinder …

I feel safe around those
Who have consideration for others
They think beyond themselves
They notice tired faces,
unspoken feeling,
Small discomforts in crowded rooms
Their kindness pays attention …

I appreciate people
Who move through the world gently
Without making it everyone else’s problem
They carry their struggles with grace
They do not spread hurt everywhere they go
Even in difficult moments
They try not to wound others …

I respect people
Who care without keeping score
They give because their heart tells them to
Not for praise
Not to collect favors
Not to remind others later
Of everything they once did …

I hold close the people
Who don’t make noise about their goodness
There is something rare about them
No performance, no loud display
Just humble decency, day after day
The kind of people
Who simply are …

#roksanatales

Bonhomie means a warm, friendly, and relaxed kindness in a person’s behaviour. It describes someone who is naturally pleasant, easy to be around, and makes others feel comfortable without trying too hard.
The word is derived from the French bonhomme, meaning ‘good-natured fellow’ …

Bonhomie
/ˌbɒnəˈmiː/ (British English)
Sounds like: bon-uh-MEE

You’re a Bonhomie to me
I♥️

In the most vulnerable moment
As I painted these magnolias
I felt the quiet plea for understanding ….

Breathing peace, calm and mindfulness
Into each gentle stroke, I imagined a mind in turmoil
Needing patience more than correction …

That’s a healing feeling
To meet another’s struggle with still hands and an open heart
As if cradling a flower that blooms differently, but no less beautifully …

🌺

#roksanatales

As I painted the magnolia in watercolor in midst of the most vulnerable part of my life, I felt it to my core and each petal reminded me of how delicate and unique every person is, specially those living with mental challenges.

This artwork and poem are a reminder to approach others with patience, gentleness, and empathy, just as we would care for a blooming flower

Can we learn to hold each other with that same tenderness?

Also, what is the true meaning for empathy to you? What actions can we take for being a true empathetic human being?

14th May, 2025
Goodmayes, London

Rahmah

‘যার যার গল্প, তার তার কাছে তীব্র সত্য!’
‘Each person’s story is an intense truth to them.’

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how often we compare struggles and pain, as if one person’s suffering is somehow more valid than another’s. But the more I look around, the more I realize: every soul carries something heavy

What breaks one heart might barely shake another, not because one person is weaker, but because we all come from different stories. Different pasts. Different support systems. And that’s why empathy matters so deeply

Society often teaches us to appear strong, to move on quickly, to say things like, ‘At least it’s not worse,’ or ‘Others have it harder.’ But those words, even when meant kindly, can shut someone down. They create distance, when what we really need is connection

Empathy isn’t about fixing. It’s about feeling with. It’s about sitting beside someone and saying, ‘I may not fully understand, but I’m here with you.’

Empathy is not just emotional intelligence; it’s a spiritual practice, a way of mirroring Divine compassion in a world that often rushes past quiet suffering

In my faith, His mercy, ‘Rahmah’ is infinite. He sees every hidden struggle, every silent tear. Only God truly knows the weight of our burdens. Only He sees the full picture of our hearts. And He calls on us to reflect that mercy in how we treat one another

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,
‘None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.’

So maybe today, let’s stop comparing struggles and pain. Let’s choose softness, gentleness, and grace. Let’s lean in. Let’s pray for one another. And above all, let’s be kind. Let’s remember, we are never truly alone. Our Lord is always with us.

LA HAWLA WA LA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH
There is no strength and no power except through God

#roksanatales

Rahmah/ arabic/
Mercy – reflects Divine compassion and the spiritual core of your reflection