Thread
Family
He questions why compassion falters with those closest to him.
The theme of family is a significant thread throughout Matthew Williamson's archive, with posts like A Code of Conduct for My Family (2007) and Kids, Compassion and Life (2007) highlighting his efforts to cultivate compassion and kindness within his family. In A Code of Conduct for My Family, he emphasizes the importance of respecting all beings, including family members, and easing suffering wherever it is found. Over time, his reflections on family evolve to include more personal and introspective stories, such as Dragonfly Magic (2009) and Dreams and Tears (2008), which reveal a deeper exploration of his relationships and emotions. In his more recent post, The Fire Between Us (2026), he continues to grapple with the complexities of family dynamics, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to understanding and nurturing his connections with loved ones.
13 posts, in order
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December 2006
Make Your Life Mean Something
A few months ago I lost someone whom I always considered my uncle. He was not related to my family by blood, but rather by friendship, sometimes that is stronge...
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March 2007
Quiet Forgiving: Loving Kindness with Chenrezig
I am terrible at remaining calm and staying in a forgiving state of mind. I too quickly allow myself to become upset and angry when people, especially those peo...
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May 2007
Mother's Day and Compassion
Spent yesterday with the family. Most of the day was just at home with my wife and children, it was nice and quiet. We watched a couple of sappy movies, which m...
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August 2007
Kids, Compassion and Life
I talk pretty big about compassion. I even try to live the talk, and I think I do a good job with almost every one I come across; but I fail with my family. Why...
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August 2007
Thank You Mom
I was watching people at lunch today, sitting alone in the corner at Taco Bueno , eating my bean burritos and thinking. There was a mom feeding her son a taco. ...
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November 2007
A Code of Conduct for My Family
This is a list of thoughts, actions and ways. It is written to help you, and all of us to be kinder, more compassionate people. I believe that our job in this l...
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January 2008
Smoklahoma (Feature Story from 1994)
Note: I wrote this in 1994 for my college newspaper. I found it again this morning and thought I would post it here. He sits at a small wooden table, eating rib...
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July 2008
Dreams and Tears
Last night I had a dream that shook me... My grandfather holds the steering wheel too-tight in his liver-marked and frail hands. My grandmother sits beside me i...
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September 2009
Dragonfly Magic
A true story. It was late afternoon, and clouds had been building from the northwest all day. The heat from the Oklahoma plains had pushed the clouds high earli...
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August 2010
Looking for Treasure
I passed a man on the street this morning. He was walking on the sidewalk, looking down, looking for a bit of money, or maybe a cigarette but that could still h...
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June 2013
Loki's Puzzle
[caption id="attachment_772" align="alignright" width="184"] Loki stone carving.[/caption] As the clouds slowly gave way to moonlight and stars, Loki shook off ...
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November 2014
Waiting for the Sun
The sun has been down for more than an hour, but it is still hot. There is a soft breeze, blowing through the upper branches. On the ground, only stirrings of h...
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April 2026
The Fire Between Us
A movie that will never get made — five legendary Native American actors around a high desert fire, each telling a story they shouldn't be able to forget.