WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

April 13, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 15

RESERVING JUDGMENT[2]

As with raising children, educational curriculum, marriage, and many other things, there is no bright line for what to do or how to do it. So too with cultivating empathy, although reserving judgment is essential. Reserving judgment requires patience, a virtue often lost in today’s ever-changing world. Instead of taking the time to learn a particular subject, we frequently download or use an app, sometimes spending no more than a few minutes to “find the answer.” Instead of meeting in person, we Facetime, Zoom, text, or use other alternatives to connect. Although technology is often essential for everyday life, cultivating empathy by reserving judgment through patience is critical.

Volunteering is one way to develop patience and reserve judgment. Whether spending time at a homeless shelter, an animal shelter, a school, a hospital, a neighborhood association, or a library, one encounters individuals with varied backgrounds, needs, and interests. It takes patience to learn each organization’s approach to those they serve and to reserve judgment, often concerning both those served and how the organization provides services. Commitments can be short-term, long-term, or for a single event. Single events can be an opportunity to involve other friends and family members as single events usually involve registrant check-in, volunteer check-in, set up, clean up, and duties during the event.

Many organizations and schools are gearing up for the summer, whether through fundraising efforts, backpack programs, or summer school or camps. Neighborhood organizations often have spring clean-up which improves the neighborhood and provides connections with neighbors you have not seen in a while or those you have never met before.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

For those who started an empathy journal, write down new volunteering opportunities and activities to help reserve judgment and foster patience. For everyone, commit to volunteering for an organization you have not volunteered for previously or have a friend or family member join you for a volunteer event.

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: Ed Kirwan, Kindness is wasted without empathy, Medium, Nov. 11, 2021, www.edkirkwinmedium.com; Y. Chung, S. Im, J. Jim, Editor A. Taylor, Can Empathy Help Individuals and Society? Through the Lens of Volunteering and Mental Health, Healthcare, Nat’l Library of Medicine, Oct. 20, 2021; 9 (11):1406.