That is exactly the question, Salsam, or at least the one I'm after in this piece (and in life generally). I suppose what I learned from this experience is that good grows and withers in certain environments, apart from my will or desire to do it.

I wish that were not so. I wish that I were a good person in a less qualified way: for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, that kind of thing. And in some parts of life I manage it. I don't carry what's happening in my life in general into the classroom and let it affect my teaching. But this was different, and I'm still trying to understand it. For example, is it more about the general circumstances? Or is it more about the nature of compassion? Or is it something I haven't discovered at all?

Thanks as always for reading and responding. I appreciate you.