get your soft skills mastered

Pictured above is one of my teammates and I, after finishing our first trial run of the cross-country season. We were both so excited for our first college seasons, especially because we were getting to run together on the same team for the first time. Technically, she is a year older than me, but because of injuries the year before she did not get to compete. This means that we were both freshmen in a sense. One other thing that needs to be understood about this picture is that we are both from Montana. In fact, we live about 45 minutes away from each other and got to race against each other a lot in high school. We were not rivals, we did not compete in the same class, and we did not have anything against each other. We were acquaintances, I guess. So, when I found out that she was going to run at Dickinson State and that was where I wanted to go... I was so excited to be her teammate. The end of the season rolled around, and we were both having issues with injuries that we had been dealing with all year. My teammate was struggling more than I was and I could see that she just needed someone to be empathetic to her and her situation. 

Empathy is a soft skill that all people should possess. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. (Find more about empathy here). My teammate was struggling, and I could see that. So, I felt as if the same thing was happening to me, and it really hurt me. It opened my eyes to how empathy should be used in daily life. Whenever I think about empathy, I automatically think of my mom. She, along with many other mothers across the world, are the most empathetic people I have ever encountered... no matter the circumstance. Humans are, by nature, emotional beings. That said, sometimes it makes us feel weak to show our emotions, not only to ourselves but especially to others. This stigma has affected my life too, and obviously, my teammate’s life. This is why we need empathy. To show us that it is ok to show our emotions and that it does not make us weak. In fact, showing emotions and being empathetic makes us stronger in a way because it allows us to be vulnerable with other people and lets them know that they can be vulnerable too. Empathy makes people feel acknowledged in their thoughts, actions, emotions, etc. It also allows for more connections and relationships between people. So, listen to your friends, teammates, coworkers, and others. Really listen to them... be empathetic. Have them listen to you. Form those relationships and connect with people in ways that you may have never thought of. If someone is having an exhausting day, go give them a hug. If someone cannot seem to figure out their homework, let them vent to you. I can assure you that all parties involved will feel better. If someone is grieving the loss of a loved one, grieve with them. Let them know that they are not alone in their emotions. Be empathetic... be more like your mothers!