“Empathy” (Sunday, June 1, 2025)

The dictionary defines the word “Empathy” as ‘the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the emotions, thoughts, or attitudes of another’.

I would consider myself to have a ‘respectable’ amount of empathy. (I certainly hope this doesn’t seem conceded or virtue signaling… I just don’t know of any other way of describing how I personally feel about this subject.)

Lately I’ve felt my level empathy has increased a notch or two. I attribute this rise directly related to my ruptured ankle injury and ongoing recovery. Allow me to explain… 

When it came to people that needed some degree of assistance while using crutches, wheelchair, scooter, etc., I always thought I had empathy toward such individuals. However, once that person needing similar assistance became ‘me’, I found a new respect and empathy for those individuals needing such assistance.

Maybe another way to describe/define ‘Empathy’ is ‘Love’ and ‘Kindness’.

When I required crutches or some type of mobility aid, the doors, curbs, and let’s not forget about those stairs, were the constant reminders and impediments to being somewhat ‘normally’ mobile. (I.e. I define the phrase ‘Normally Mobile’ as the way I was before my injury.) 

During my ‘labored travels’, I would occasionally encounter a helpful soul that would offer to hold a door, to gently hold my elbow/arm and help me to get where I needed to be. They may not know it, but those people are truly the ‘angels/saints’ that live amongst us every day!

During the initial phases of my recovery, I was visiting the medical center/doctor’s office with a fairly high degree of frequency. Maybe because the odds that people were perhaps expecting to see individuals with some type of ‘assistance needing’ affliction in a medical-area setting, I found people were much more open to helping their fellow man there vs. when I was in a general public setting. 

I always made certain I said “THANK YOU!” in a loud and directional voice to any/all individuals that helped me… no matter the extent of the assistance. And I truly was thankful for their assistance.

Empathy. Love. Kindness. Pass them all along. The difference you will be making in someone’s life will be PROFOUND!

I know… You made it in mine.

You truly did!

Let’s talk! Email me at: RupturedRunner@gmail.com.