"Empathy is about standing in someone else's shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place."
~ Daniel H. Pink
Once upon a time in a small village there was a practice like no other in the world.
Every man, woman and child of a certain age, when putting on his or her shoes
(all who had shoes, most did because it was in a cold climate) would vow to notice the shoes of at least one other person that day. It may be a family member, a neighbor, or someone passing through. It could be anyone.
The point was not to look at the style, the size, the condition, or the cleanliness of the shoes. Certainly it was not to judge the shoes or the person.
The practice involved imagining yourself in those shoes for that day, being that person. What might you be feeling? Facing?
Everyone learned the practice early in life. It was explained to them when they were able to put on their own shoes for the first time.
Yes, some days it was done in a routine way, with little awareness. But most days it was done with sincere care. And because it was done day after day, year after year, the extraordinary kindness and
compassion that developed there was also like no other in the world.
Can you imagine such a practice?
Care to try it today?
For peace,
Charlene
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