If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher. Pema Chodron
Mara
Are you all right
Making those
Obnoxious faces
Shrieking cries
Ferocious insults
Hysteric roar
I don’t recall asking
You to come but since
You’re here already
Let’s sit down and
Have some chamomile
Tea together
I might as well try to
Learn something
From you
When is empathy hard for you?
I got this question during my job interview at Automattic. This was years ago, but I still ask myself the same thing over and over again. Applying for a customer support position I knew empathy will make up a large part of my job, and it’s crucial to be able to exercise it in all […]
Whatever you think is basic, it’s only basic to you
All the hairdressers I know cringe when they hear about my hair care routine. It’s rather non-existent: I wash my hair, apply a conditioner, brush it for 5 minutes, and that’s pretty much it. When it’s windy I might tie it up in a loose side braid so it doesn’t get all tangled up. I […]
Don’t expect much from a drowning man
Don’t expect much from a drowning man. He’s not going to offer you a candy bar or ask how your day was. He’s too busy not drowning. Seth Godin I come back to this post by Seth Godin at least once a week. It’s super short and takes less than a minute to read. Whenever […]
When you want to say sorry, try saying ‘thank you’
What’s the first thing you do when someone is sad or upset? My natural instinct was always to say sorry. Even if wasn’t the least responsible for the problem, I used to think saying sorry will express empathy and show people that I am on their side. One of the first things I learned working […]
If you see suffering, don’t feel sorry
If you see someone go through a hard time, don’t feel sorry for them. It deprives them of agency. If you say you’re sorry, you’re saying they’re unable to deal with what is happening. People are much wiser and stronger than we think. They have the power to use whatever challenge they’re facing as a […]
Unbearable compassion
Open your heart and
Get flooded
A thousand hurricanes
Ghosts of the present and past
Scrounging
Seeking relief
(…)
No one really means to be mean
When was the last time you spoke to customer support? Bet you didn’t reach out to them to speak about how awesome they are? Most people, myself included, only contact support if there’s absolutely no other way to get something done. I’d much rather fill ten online forms than call my bank, phone carrier, or […]