When you practice everyday empathy, life gets easier.
Everyday empathy isn’t just a feeling. It’s a skill to use daily. My husband, Gary, is a master of empathy and it’s many uses. Years ago, flying home from visiting my relatives in Colorado for Christmas, we got stuck at the airport with our two young children, then about 5 and 7. We were supposed to fly out of a regional airport but when our plane was cancelled, Gary rented a car to drive to the main airport in Denver where we hoped the weather was better and flights more numerous.
There were a few planes scheduled to fly to Los Angeles that afternoon. Our girls were grumpy and tired. “Wait here,” he said to me, and he got into line at a service counter. Several people in front of him were demanding in voices quite audible to the entire lobby, often openly rude to the service agent. The person in front of him finally walked off in a huff.
Gary stepped up to the counter, looked the service agent in the eye, and asked, “So how is your day going?” She gave him a wry smile, which he returned, mirroring her expression. “I’m sure you’ve had better days.”
She nodded and asked, “how can I help you?” Five minutes later, Gary came back to me with four boarding passes. We were on two different planes an hour apart, but we would be home by nightfall.
That year, for me, the Christmas miracle was empathy. I was so grateful that I started to study and learn how he did it. I’ve learned so much from him. Gary, if you are reading, this is my annual post of gratitude for you.
This post is part of my Gratitude Project 2025: The Magic of Empathy — a 30-day exploration of empathy and gratitude. Visit the hub to follow along or catch up on past reflections.
If you’d like to explore the science behind gratitude, visit the Greater Good Science Center’s Gratitude Resources.
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