MY COMPASSION STORY
My name is Shayna Rose Mordue. Grew up in Denver. Born in 1983.
I remember the world before the internet, cell phones, and social media. My favorite TV show was "Kids Incorporated," and my life's dream was to be a singer.
I arrived after 3 older half-sisters. My mother was Jewish, my father was Christian. Our challenge was growing up in an interfaith household with strong personalities and wildly different opinions. No one knew I was a highly sensitive child. As the peacemaker, I learned to ease tensions at home and make people smile through entertainment.
At age 8, I become a professional actress and singer. By then, I was learning to live in harmony with people from very different walks of life: my Orthodox Jewish sisters, my Christian relatives, the rainbow assortment of theater folks, and the at risk students from my father's alternative high school. This potpourri of people made me believe there could be peace between anyone, anywhere.
I wouldn't describe childhood as being particularly pleasant. I was constantly bullied, never felt like I fit in, and was overwhelmed by my empathy for others. I moved to LA when I was only 18 to pursue my career, and find a place where differences and authenticity were celebrated. I was very lucky to succeed the way I did, with major TV credits including a starring role as "Marina" on Nickelodeon's hit music series,
"The Fresh Beat Band."
But I found myself in deep turmoil. I struggled with how my employers put workers in harm's way, and cheated them out of compensation. They didn't value anything except the bottom line. In response,
I started my own production company with my husband. This turned me into an entrepreneur as well as a savvy marketer. A new chapter of my life was blossoming. Until the unexpected happened...
Four short years into marriage, I went through an unexpected divorce that rocked my world. Everything came to an end: the production company, the businesses... I was even forced to leave my home, my community, and Los Angeles. It was devastating. But, there was a silver lining. My empathy and compassion for others deepened.
I realized that caring about making other people's lives genuinely better was what I always wanted to do, and now I was able to name it.
My divorce prompted me to look inward. I embarked on a personal growth journey involving books, workshops, therapy, meditation, Buddhism. From there, my philosophy on life took shape.
The truth - we are all the same.
We all want to live meaningful lives
to be accepted for who we are
to quell the pain and relish in joy
to feel important and worthy
to be loved
How do we achieve this? Compassion.
My life is now dedicated to people who infuse compassion into their projects, companies, and contributions. They want to make a positive impact on the world, and seek the secret sauce on how to do it. They look beyond the financial gains to actual human impact. We are responsible for helping each other live better, healthier, and happier lives... For decreasing each other's pain and lifting one another out of despair. Our efforts to shape culture are toxic without compassion at the center.