Empathy Matters

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   Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself—Moshin Hamid

 

  The Oxford Dictionary defines empathetic as “showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” That is a superpower!  In a world that seems to be turning its back on kindness, mercy, and love for all creation, empathetic people seem to be in short supply.  Or perhaps they have gone underground, helping as much as they can without calling attention to themselves. Some of us have heard the phrase, “If it bleeds it leads” when it comes to news coverage. That is why many folks avoid the news. It can be soul crushing.

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  Nonetheless, I believe there are more folks out there doing good and showing empathy for our marginalized siblings. I often see it in social media posts or hear about it from some of you. This gives me hope and should also encourage you to continue doing all you can to heal our hurting world.

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 Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another—Alfred Adler

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  When we stop to engage with our neighbors in need, it changes them, and it changes us. This is the way we can change our environment. These two women sum it up better than I ever could.

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All that you touch You Change. All that you Change, Changes you. The only lasting truth is Change.

—Octavia Butler​

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In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

—Jennifer Dukes Lee

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Kindness eases change.

—Octavia Butler​

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It doesn’t cost anything to be empathetic.  So just stay human!

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