Empathy Should Rule During The Winter Solstice Holidays (And Beyond)

"The story of a wealthy businessman who annually gives out hundreds of $100 bills to strangers motivated a group of Phoenix students to start their own Secret Santa club. Steve Hartman has their story in 'On the Road.'"

Click on the link below for an example of what the Holidays around the Winter Solstice should be about:

A mysterious Secret Santa motivated students to raise thousands of dollars for those in need

A Tale Of Two Houses

Once Upon A Time, there were two houses built in a nice neighborhood. They looked alike from the outside but their owners differed in how to manage and improve their homes and neighborhood. One owner (the Arrs) thought that they had all the answers to taking care of their home and didn't care what was happening to the neighborhood at large. They refused the help of neighbors and, when needed, the advice of experts when things broke. The other owner (the Dees) realized that they needed help in maintaining their home. When they needed help, they consulted their neighbors, and experts if such were needed. They also wanted to help the rest of the neighborhood to be as well-maintained as their house. 

As time passed, this is what the two houses looked like:

This lesson is hard to understand if one is not thinking critically, and with empathy.

What Is Your Role In Promoting A Better Society?

Anyone attuned to reality and who cares about humanity can see that our society is on the brink of ruin. The Overton Window is the range of policies voters will find acceptable. There is no doubt that society MUST change the content of what is acceptable, and each of us individually and in small groups need to do our part. Click on the link below for a video reinforcing this idea:

Let's talk about our roles - - -

Heros, Empathy, Apathy, And The Brain

"Scott Pelley meets with Carnegie Hero Fund awardees and reports on a possible difference in brain make-up for those who commit heroic acts."

What makes up a hero? Who has what it takes to be one? Are all of us pre-programmed towards empathy or apathy in a life-threatening emergency? Click on the link below for a recent "60 Minutes" segment that presents the latest scientific findings attempting to answer these questions. 

What's in the heads of heroes?

I finish with a serious suggestion for research. Since it is clear to anyone paying attention that there is a huge difference between Democrats and Republicans regarding empathy, select samples of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans and brain scan them looking for the same findings presented in this "60 Minutes" segment. If there are significant differences, a second/repeat study could be performed on the same subjects after an appropriate educational process of critical thinking and scientific findings regarding the brain and free will.

What Is The Most Important Factor In Raising Happy And Successful Children?

One does not have to look very far to see the lengths that parents will go to in an effort to help their children (link). Click on the link below for recent research on the subject:

Teaching Kids Kindness Prepares Them for Success

This is consistent with what we know about the connection between evolution and empathy (link).