E is for Empathy

You’ll have to excuse the title. I have a newborn now and we spend quite a bit of time working on the ABCs.?

As the new year kicks off, so many of us are busy with setting goals, resolutions or new affirmations. Many of you know that 2024 brought immense tragedy and heartache for me, losing my partner Steve to a brain aneurysm at 44, while pregnant with our first daughter, Stevie.?

While I don’t have much downtime these days, I wanted to share one of my greatest learnings, and take a moment to thank all of you who have reached out, texted, called, emailed, sent cards, gifts, donations to his foundation, and shared Steve’s eulogy. It has reached almost 100K views. Always humble and soft spoken, he would be flattered to know his impact.?

There are no words to describe such a devastating loss. When I try, I always seem to come up short. There are some things in life that one can only understand through experience, and this is an experience that I wish on no one. However, I have been absolutely amazed with the outreach and empathy of others-oftentimes, complete strangers. I try to remind myself that I am not the first one in this situation, nor will I be the last.?

I recall leadership training and executive coaching over the years where one learns about being an ‘empathetic leader.’ This experience has shown me how unprepared and ignorant I was to the needs of those in grief. I reflect on past situations and wish I had been more empathetic, and truly tried to imagine the needs of others.?

I’ve never been one for resolutions, but I am a believer in self-improvement. I’m committed to being better and showing others the empathy that has been extended by so many of you. Fred Rogers once said, when I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’?

So thank you to all of you who have helped me, Stevie and our family. Tragedy can bring out the best and worst in people. I try to focus on the best. And bear with me as I work through the unread messages. Happy New Year.