second nature
i have been told that my biggest weakness is my empathy.
and while my empathy may have kept me in toxic relationships, made me cry in public, made me isolate, made it hard to establish boundaries, made processing certain events feel never ending… and so forth…
it’s my second nature. and it shapes every value of mine.
as such, my empathy shapes my political beliefs: empathy for those facing discrimination in an unjust system; for immigrant families torn apart by ICE; for members of the LGBTQ+ community struggling without support; for those witnessing unimaginable loss in Gaza; for my Black friends and family who live in fear because of the color of their skin; for women whose voices are silenced; for families grieving children lost in service to our country; for those who have unfairly lost loved ones to gun violence…
i have sat at so many tables across from someone begging for them to extend empathy to those that are different than them.
Charlie Kirk is someone whose beliefs contradicted almost every single one of mine, and he would have been someone i would have begged from for empathy. but he was different than me, and didn’t believe in empathy.
my empathy, while some may view it as my weakness, is my strength.
if i want someone to consider extending empathy to the causes that i believe in, i will extend my empathy to those that are different than me.
everyone’s beliefs are shaped by their life experience. i cannot hate a person for having different experiences than me. i must accept that they are on a different trajectory and move on. this does not mean i have to support or condone their actions, but i will listen.
tragedies happen every single day. if it takes someone experiencing a tragedy that exists close to home for them to begin to understand - that is a time to nurture conversation, not shut people out more. we must keep leading with love, as hate will further divide us. when talking stops, wars start.
i have really been struggling putting this experience into words. this shouldn’t be an easy thing to process.
i will not pretend to have answers to the events that are taking place inside and outside of our country. but i have to believe in love and hope for a better tomorrow. i will keep praying to God and show up with love and continue to believe that love is stronger than hate.
take what’s second nature to you, and let it be your strength. have faith.
