I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.
Today’s tip is to spend time wishing for other people to be free of suffering.
em·pa·thy – the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
As I get older, I try more and more to empathize with others. Put myself in their shoes and understand how they feel.
There is a lot of suffering in the world, all the time, but many people right now that have planned for the future, worked hard, put themselves in good situations, and with the changes of the pandemic, they are suffering.
Particularly, I think about many of the people I’ve met over the years in airports. Lots of them work in coffee shops, restaurants, bus drivers, and more. These are are people I used to see every month, sometimes every week. I know a couple of them are out of work. Furloughed or laid off because of a lack of business from travel.
For the few I personally know and have seen around town, I’m sure there are dozens or hundreds more in Denver. Likely thousands around the world that are suffering. Some might miss meals, some might have lost housing. Most, or all, are likely feeling a lot of stress from a situation that is out of their control.
I took a few minutes to sit and think about all the people I used to see in my travels that are hurting now. I hope they find a path through this pandemic world.