Dear Friends,
Dictionary publishing companies have an annual tradition in which they announce a “Word of the Year” – their choice of the most important word or expression in the public sphere during the previous 12 months. In 2023, for example, Meriam Webster's Word of the Year was authentic. With the rise of artificial intelligence and the continued spread of disinformation, they said, “authentic” is a word that commercial brands, social media influencers, politicians and celebrities used an awful lot.
I have learned that some people choose their own personal Word of the Year. The idea is that instead of setting a New Year’s resolution, they select a single word to be their focus; a concept around which to set goals or intentions for their lives.
As I amp up my own stress-busting routines during this overwhelmingly difficult pre-election period, I have decided to choose my own personal word: Empathy. It occurs to me that I don't always practice empathy as well as I could, and that's not good. In a world shaken by threats, violence and uncertainty, empathy offers a path to personal and communal healing.
Maya Angelou once said something that stuck with me: "I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it."
Courage? Empathy requires courage? Of course it does, because empathy isn't just about listening and head nodding. Real empathy requires us to give up the sense of control we have when we're certain our perspective is "right". It requires us to connect with other people on an emotional level, and be vulnerable enough to examine parts of ourselves we might rather ignore.
Want a quick lesson on empathy? I think you'll enjoy the charming 3-minute video narrated by Brené Brown you'll find by clicking on the button below. Brown says that at its core, empathy is about communicating the incredibly powerful message, "you are not alone".
That message shouldn’t be difficult for us to communicate to each other, because it’s true! As a member of Women’s Connection, you are never truly alone. We’ve got you. Every day, no matter what happens, we’re all in this together.
With affection and respect,
Darla Hastings
Executive Director