Word of the Week: Empathy

Empathy.

What a blessing and gift it can be, when someone takes the time and reaches out to us to say:

                            

" I care, I understand, I'm sorry for what you are going through...."

                         

It can mean so much. It can change our perception and attitude towards a difficult situation we are struggling with. For me, it's been the difference so many times between coping and despair.

I don't think we should ever underestimate the power of empathy. It is a force for good. 

                                                     

And in case you ever wondered what the difference between empathy and sympathy is, this is what I found over at the Free Dictionary site:

empathy/sympathy  - Empathy denotes a deep emotional understanding of another's feelings or problems, while sympathy is more general and can apply to small annoyances or setbacks.
                                 
                          

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On a completely different (but timely) topic, I've just posted: 20 Great Gift Suggestions Under $20 featuring some of my favorite products I've reviewed at My Real Life Reviews.

A variety of gift and stocking stuffer ideas; something for everyone.

And they definitely won't break the bank! LOL :<)

Taking the Time to Say: Thank You!

Recently I was having yet another bout of insomnia at around 1 in the morning (that happens quite a bit) and decided to get up and do some browsing on the Web.

While on Google, I "happened" to find my way to a Doctors Review site. It got me thinking about a doctor I had met many years ago when I ended up in the emergency ward at 5 AM with what I thought at the time was either a heart attack or stroke (it was neither, just a lot of stress-related physical symptoms...long story).

Back to the "thank you" theme of this post. After finding this doctor's name on the review site and reading many glowing (they really were) reviews (and not one negative one!) from patients he had treated and cared for over the years, I decided to try to locate an email address for him. I wanted to send a note of thanks for his kindness and compassion on that very difficult night, so many years ago.



My email:

Many years ago, I ended up at the ..... Hospital emergency room at around 5AM, suffering from what I thought at the time was either a heart attack or stroke (it was neither, just way too much stress in my life). I had the good fortune to have you as the emergency room doctor who attended to me that night.

I was reading some reviews of doctors and came across your name. I vividly remember you and that night. You were so kind, professional and reassuring, I never forgot it. It appears from the reviews I was reading tonight, that I am not the only one who has been impressed by how you conduct yourself as a doctor. If I didn’t thank you that night (Oct. 1998) I just wanted to say that now. My sincere thanks to you for helping me so much on what was probably the most difficult night of my life. I lived to tell the tale though! I’m so glad you were there.

And the Dr.'s reply:

Thank you so much for your kind words! You made my day Geraldine. I will speaking to my Dad later today (both of my folks are well) and I will pass on your greetings.
Take care. R....


I've left out the names for confidentiality. Coincidentally,  I happened to know his parents, wonderful people.

It left me with such a good feeling to have been able to reconnect and to express my sincere appreciation, after all these years. I needed the care of a truly compassionate and professional doctor that night and that's exactly what happened.

If there's someone who you've always wanted to say thanks to and it got forgotten along the way for whatever reason, it really is worth the time and small effort to write a note, email or make a phone call. I'm so glad that I did....

"Simple" Acts of Kindness Haiku

                                

                                                                                              

Sometimes, we may never know, the far-reaching branches of one simple "act of kindness".