Free Empathy

Perhaps it was his eyes:  the kindness there, the depth of his gaze.  Or maybe it was the quality of his listening, the way he seemed to hear with his whole body, leaning in to catch every word.   His lined face held no judgment, no impatience or tension or hint of boredom.  Nothing but love.  Waves of people surged by on the busy sidewalk, laughing and chatting, but his attention never wavered from the young woman who sat across the table from him, pouring out her tale.  I’m pretty he sure he didn’t even notice me when I paused, and then hesitated before snapping my photo, uncertain about intruding on this very public and yet strangely intimate exchange.

Home at last from two weeks on the west coast, I find myself  still thinking abut this man who sits at a card table on the bustling, hippest street in Santa Cruz and  open-heartedly gives himself away.

“Free Empathy” his sign says.  And, indeed, there is not so much as a cup or a hat or a money box in sight, no way for anyone to pay for his compassion even if they wanted to.

Free empathy.  I wonder if there is any greater gift, any exchange between two people, that could be more valuable than this?

Free empathy.  Nothing less than an offer of refuge, of rest, of acceptance: you are safe here, and you are ok, just as you are.

Free empathy.  A promise to bear loving witness to another’s struggle.

Free empathy.  A reminder that we won’t save the world with big gestures or grand schemes, but by becoming better listeners.  By asking how someone else is doing, and then taking time enough to put ourselves in their shoes, to see the world through their eyes.

Free empathy.  One precious natural resource that is endlessly renewable.

 Magical Journey News

Events

I have three New England appearances coming up this week and would love to see you, either in New Hampshire or Massachusetts.

Thursday, Feb. 21, I’ll be at the Amherst, NH Town Library at 7 pm.  This event is free, but  please register in advance.  Details HERE.  

Friday, Feb. 22,  I look forward to meeting old friends and new at Book Ends in Winchester, MA, my former home town. Details HERE. 

Sunday, Feb. 24, my friend and writing partner Margaret Roach, author of The Backyard Parables, and I will read and chat together at the Concord Bookshop in Concord, Ma, at 3 pm.  More info HERE. 

Next week, Margaret and I have a couple of  special “duets” in her neighborhood (The Arts Center of the Capital Region, in Troy, NY, on Thursday, February 28 and Battenkill Books in Cambridge, NY, on March 3.) We will talk about everything from literary friendship to facelifts, garden chores to hot flashes.  In other words, no subject is off limits, and we would love to hear your stories as well as share ours with you.

Reviews

Who doesn’t love synchronicity?  Kasey Matthews’ beautiful review was the best Valentines Day gift I could have received, and her story-behind-the-story is one of those “meant-to-be” tales that sends a shiver up my spine.  Read her piece (and enter to win a signed copy of Magical Journey) HERE.

This thoughtful review by a young Muslim mother was a wonderful reminder: no matter how different our lives may appear on the outside, our mothering journeys are more alike than different.  Story Circle is a treasure trove for memoir lovers, and I’m honored to be in such good company HERE.

Word of Mouth

Word of mouth truly is an author’s best publicity of all.  Huge thanks to all of you who are sharing Magical Journey with others, buying copies for your friends, spreading the word on Facebook or taking a moment to “like” my page, or writing reviews on Amazon.  There are lots of books and countless daily distractions competing for our attention in this busy, busy world.  And sometimes it’s hard to hear a small, faint buzz amidst the noisy clamor.  But you are creating such a buzz, and even though it’s still a tiny one, I’m enormously grateful.

Bookplates

I had to stop mailing bookplates over these last two weeks while I was on the road.  But now I’m determined to catch up!  (If you wrote requesting them, fear not, they will soon be on their way.)  And if you’d like a signed bookplate (or several) for yourself or friends, just drop me a note through the CONTACT form on my website, and I’ll be happy to send them to you.  (Make sure to leave your mailing address!)