I had the pleasure of a conversation with a new friend last week. She talked to me about her work, and she expressed frustration that she couldn't seem to get through to her colleagues about the importance of inclusion and justice. We talked strategy for a while, and one of the things we came up with is something I want to share with you.

 

We live in a culture that actively discourages us from building empathy for anyone outside our immediate circles. Contempt is currency. Bullying is everywhere, and often rewarded. It's no wonder we're in what the US Surgeon General has called a loneliness epidemic.

 

I argue that this is by design. Empathy builds solidarity, and if we prize attributes and actions that discourage empathy, then we don't build the skills that connect us to each other. We don't build the heart-deep connections that bind our causes to one another. We don't fight for each other when the fighting gets hard.

 

This summer, let's work out those empathy muscles. Let's work against a culture of contempt by seeking connection, building appreciation, and showing up for one another. Connect with people outside your immediate circles by volunteering, showing up to protests, or just changing up your routine. Push past the discomfort and dig deep to feel for the strangers around you. When we feel for each other, we fight for each other. And we need every one of us in the fight for justice.