What life lesson did you learn too late?
I’ve always believed empathy was important. What took me much longer to understand was just how much of another person’s life remains hidden from view.
Over the years, I’ve met thousands of people. Some have been outgoing. Some demanding. Some withdrawn. Others have behaved in ways I’ve struggled to understand. But we rarely know the whole story.
Behind anger might be fear. Behind apparent indifference might be exhaustion. Behind confidence might be profound insecurity. Sometimes those who appear most capable and assured are carrying the heaviest burdens.
When you’re responsible for the welfare of 300 university students, this is a valuable lesson to learn. You want everyone to be safe, to grow and to flourish in every sense.
But people hurt one another. Some isolate themselves. Others denigrate themselves, unable to recognise their own worth. And some carry burdens so quietly that nobody knows they’re struggling.
I wish it was otherwise.
I’ve learned that empathy doesn’t mean excusing harmful behaviour. But it does mean recognising that there may be more to someone’s story than we can see.
I wish I’d understood this more deeply when I was younger. I might have been slower to judge, quicker to listen and more generous in the way I responded to others.
If I could have one extraordinary ability, it would be to see the burdens people carry but rarely reveal.
Until then, empathy is the closest thing we have.
What life lesson did you learn too late?
View all responses
Leave a Reply