Empathy

Have you ever seen a friend scrape their knee on the playground and felt a little 'ouch' inside your own tummy? Or maybe you watched someone open a birthday present and their big, happy smile made you smile, too, even though the gift wasn't for you. That funny, warm, and sometimes sad feeling that connects your heart to theirs is me. I am a special kind of magic that lets you step inside someone else’s shoes for a moment to understand what they are feeling, almost like you are feeling it with them. I help you know when a friend needs a hug or when it’s time to cheer for your team. I am the little voice that whispers, 'I know how you feel'. Hello there. My name is Empathy.

I've been around for as long as people have been friends, families, and helpers to one another. Even the earliest humans felt me when they shared their food or took care of someone who was sick. For a long, long time, everyone felt me, but they didn't have a special name for what I was. Then, people started to study me and think about how important I am. A very thoughtful man named Adam Smith wrote about me in a big book on April 23rd, 1759. He didn't call me Empathy, but he described me as a wonderful ability to imagine what other people were feeling. He said it was like we all have a little person inside of us who can feel what others are going through. It was like he saw the invisible strings I use to connect everyone’s hearts. Many years later, in the 1990s, scientists found my secret helpers inside your brain. They are called 'mirror neurons,' and they are like tiny copycats. These tiny helpers are amazing—when you see someone yawn, they make you feel sleepy, too. When you see a friend trip and fall, they help your brain feel a little bit of their surprise. They help you mirror, or copy, the feelings of others, which is my special magic.

So, why do I matter so much? Well, I am the superpower behind every single act of kindness. I'm the reason you share your favorite crackers with a friend who forgot their snack at home. I am the warm feeling that makes you give a big hug to your little brother when he is sad. When you read a book about a brave knight or a lost puppy, I am the one who helps you feel their adventure and their loneliness. I help you make and keep good friends because I help you understand when they are happy, worried, or excited. Without me, the world would be a much colder and lonelier place. Everyone would just be thinking about themselves. I build invisible bridges between people, helping everyone feel seen, heard, and understood. When you know someone understands you, it feels like a warm blanket on a chilly day. So the next time you feel that little tug in your heart for someone else, that's me, Empathy, saying hello. Listen to me, and I’ll help you make the world a warmer, friendlier home for everyone, one feeling at a time.