We are living in life-changing times – so let’s change it for the better

What is happening to us?  

I had a car blaring it’s horn at me after the light had barely turned green, another car riding my tail even though I was already 10 miles over the speed limit on a highway – in the right lane, and as I held the door for someone behind me, the man behind her rolled his eyes and glared – at ME – for holding a door for someone???

This last 2+ years of isolation has affected us profoundly, and I don’t think we realize how badly.  We have been through trauma, and we are not handling it well.  

Incivility has always been with us.  We all remember our childhood bullies.  We all know that speaking about politics or religion at a dinner party is fraught with peril.   But this is different…

It is well known in psychology circles how intense sustained stress can desensitize the mind.

Steven Taylor, who studies disaster psychology at the University of British Columbia was quoted in an 2021 article for The Atlantic  about how the pandemic may have affected our ability to empathize.  After surviving a disaster, a minority of people become more resilient so that they are better able to cope with the next event; but for most people, the stress compounds: “surviving one crisis puts one at an increased risk of an unhealthy psychological reaction to another” Taylor states.

When we lose our empathy, we lose our humanity.

It is time to rebuild. It’s time to put this time behind us, and to transform.  

Some may think we are irreparably broken.  It’s easier it be angry.  We fought over things like toilet paper.  But our self concern has not made us happy.  

Let’s be better than we were. Let’s try some empathy:

• Give some grace to overworked servers who are working with chronic understaffing.  Speak with them, show concern, and while you’re at it, over tip.
• Slow down and observe something beautiful: a sunset, a bright blue sky, children at play; and share that experience with someone.
• Talk to everyone. Say good morning as you pass folks in the hallway. Strike up a conversation with the person in back of you while you’re standing in the check-out line.  You may startle a few people. However, I promise that most will be grateful for this unexpected friendliness.
• Take responsibility for what you put out into the world – and make it good.

Be what you want to see.

What are your ideas for spreading empathy to re-embrace humanity?