Caring Less Is Careless

Hundreds die and thousands are injured or made homeless by a devastating earthquake. News outlets give relatively little space to reporting the disaster.

While my differences with someone may lesson my interaction with them, my compassion and feelings should not be reduced by physical, political, religious, or cultural distance.

With distance I should care no less for those in need, for caring less is careless.

 

With Loss: Love

From One to Many

Some convey their ideas and thoughts using detached, explicit language. Yesterday I presented a narrative about the importance I place on emotional empathy. Everything I write is from my point of view, but I hope what I write offers more than a diary of personal experience.

I try to show my feelings and thoughts in equal measure so they have the chance to matter, to you.

Every word I say, from my first to last, reveals, but only when those hearing care to return.

The Sharing of Feelings

My aunt in her nineties was usually buoyant, but a darkness grips her. Perhaps it is her failing eyesight at a time when reading gave her most pleasure. Perhaps I have not given her the time she needed these past few days. She will not say. I too grow sad. Feeling is infectious.

I stay a while and talk. She listens, at first without much attention, then slowly, as my chuckle about my utter failure to resolve my latest creative challenge turns to self-mocking laughter, she smiles.