At the grocery store, a teen helped an elderly man reach an item. This small kindness reminded me how we’re naturally wired for connection—something Scott Howard Swain calls “street empathy” in his eye-opening book.
The story
Yesterday at the grocery store, I saw an elderly man struggling to reach something on the top shelf. Before I could help, a teenager put his phone down, grabbed the item, and handed it over with a smile. They chatted briefly, both beaming from that small connection.
It reminded me how we’re naturally wired for goodness in ways we overlook. These little kindnesses happen constantly, yet we focus on negative headlines instead.
I’ve been reading “A Practical EmPath” by Scott Howard Swain, and it’s changing how I see these interactions. He talks about “street empathy” – this accessible way of understanding others that creates unexpected moments of connection between strangers.
What’s cool is how Swain shows that cognitive empathy isn’t just an abstract concept but a practical skill anyone can learn. When we understand where others are coming from, being kind becomes automatic.
The book offers simple, everyday tools with straightforward explanations that make complex ideas immediately useful. Now I notice more moments like that grocery store interaction – proof that our default setting isn’t selfishness but connection.
In our divided world, there’s something powerful about seeing the everyday goodness around us. It’s always been there, just waiting for us to notice.
