In the beginning, I had a loose notion of what I wanted from Age of Empathy
When it comes down to the bare bones — people desire similar things — to feel safe — physically, emotionally, and in self-expression — to be loved, and to be understood.
Age of Empathy is a publication I started on Medium in July 2020. I had been writing on Medium since April 2020. I decided to create my own publication to house the kind of content I would like to read.
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I wanted a place for readers and writers to connect, inspire, and grow. Thus, the tagline was born.
As Age of Empathy grew it came to my attention (thank you, Melissa Bee) that a mission or vision statement would help readers and writers understand what Age of Empathy is all about.
Background
To be honest, in the beginning I was timid and hesitant to grow Age of Empathy. I wanted to prioritize quality and an empathic/empathetic tone over everything else. I saw the possibility for nonfiction, poetry, and fiction all containing this common theme.
I wanted to test the waters and see what happened. I wanted to spread this empathic/empathetic way of being within the writing community. I was careful to keep the growth slow and steady — at first. I didn’t want to get overwhelmed and quit, for one thing.
Then, I had the opportunity to co-edit for MuddyUm and Genius in a Bottle. I learned how important it is to bring on editors as publications grow so the growth can continue on unheeded. Shanna Loga and Melissa Bee joined me on the editorial team, keeping the quality present while not overwhelming anyone.
The Age of Empathy vision comes together
I talked with my energetic healer-teacher, Christine DeMelle, last week, about that which I am grateful for in my life. I realized holding space for Age of Empathy is something for which I am both proud and grateful.
There’s a conscious shift to kindness and empathy in the collective right now. When you look, you can find it. It involves a more respectful, balanced way of exchanging ideas. It has to do with non-violent communication.
Holding space for this kind of writing is something I feel called to do and I’m proud of what I/we have created with Age of Empathy.
In my experience people are more receptive to the exchange of what sometimes appear to be conflicting ideas when the ideas are presented with kindness and empathy and there is an understood respect of oneself and the other when engaging in discourse.
3 Nonviolent communication backs up this theory:
With Nonviolent Communication (NVC) we learn to hear our own deeper needs and those of others. Through its emphasis on deep listening — to ourselves as well as others — NVC helps us discover the depth of our own compassion. This language reveals the awareness that all human beings are only trying to honor universal values and needs, every minute, every day.
NVC can be seen as both a spiritual practice that helps us see our common humanity, using our power in a way that honors everyone’s needs, and a concrete set of skills which help us create life-serving families and communities.
The form is simple, yet powerfully transformative. — The Center For Nonviolent Communication
Vision Statement for Age of Empathy
Age of Empathy is a publication for writers and readers to safely share and exchange ideas and visions in the form of nonfiction , poetry, and fiction. This is all done in the spirit of nonviolent communication and empathy.