What if we added empathy goals to our lives? It wouldn’t be that hard, actually, because there are so many ways to learn about other people, to increase our understanding of others’ life experiences, cultures, beliefs, feelings. Even talking to strangers that we meet counts, because every one of us is unique, interesting and worth listening to.

Media: movies, TV shows, social media, books, feature articles in newspapers, and so on all give us the opportunity to increase our empathy for others every day. So, here’s mine from yesterday: Flying home from visiting our son and his fiancée (who is from Chile–lots of opportunities to learn more about Chilean culture from her and her friends), I watched an in-flight movie, “Sing Sing.” By the end, I was sitting in my seat with tears flowing. What a moving, beautiful film! It’s based on the true story of a program for inmates called RTA, or Rehabilitation Through the Arts. In this film, we see several men in Sing Sing prison working together, collaborating with their empathetic director, to produce and act in a play, which they do twice a year. Several of the actors in this movie are former inmates who were involved in this incredible, life-changing program. We really get to know them, and their lives, both the hardships and the positive connections. We empathize, and we care. I highly recommend this movie.