Don’t ever assume that witnessing fragility in a person equates to them being weak or unable to withstand. On the contrary. If you must assume anything about such a person, assume that showing their fragility requires great strength. Assume that their apparent fragility is born from experiences that indeed would break many of us. Break many of us into hardness, into building protective crusts, into inability to grow or listen or even adapt. Assume their apparent fragility is evidence of great courage and determination to learn and understand. Assume that. Then if you are proven wrong in your assumption turn your response to compassion. Compassion for their pain.

There are only two wise responses to fragility: respect and compassion. 

SJJ 10/30/26