Because empathy is contagious (why I advocate, part 4 of n)

Sometimes transmission of empathy and compassion is completely rational: my grandfather started recognizing good things about China after my mother introduced him to a friendly, intelligent Chinese woman who smiled at his stories.  Learning from CHASA parents about struggles with students forming letters, I've asked a colleague to reconsider the spaces she provides for essay questions.  I donated more quickly to relief efforts in Nepal just because I am connected to the people of Nepal through an occasional facebook friend.

One never knows what insects the flowers have endured.
Baptisia Summer 2014 (?)

It's a long road.  One never knows what is just over the hill.
Better stop and make some funny faces along the way.

Sometimes it makes very little sense.  There's no particular reason a blog post here should resonate with a friend whose daughter is struggling with reading or that watching friends deal with health issues should make me feel more kindly to students who can't be bothered to come to class, but it did and it does.

Contagious compassion can be irrational, but I think it is always personal.  Knowing that something exists is unlikely to change anyone's attitude; a good story might.

So this is why I advocate for pediatric stroke awareness. I'm here to share our stories, and I hope that they might make readers a little more alert to the daily struggles going on around them.  And that that alertness might translate into treating everyone (oneself included) with a healthy dose of empathetic compassion.  And, who knows?  I


t might spread from there.