writings from Nathan Wesley Smith
Empathy is an important aspect in life. It is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Without empathy we can be cold and calloused to the hurts, failures and fears others have which can make us seem aloof, disinterested or simply uncaring. I place a high value on empathy as I see it in the life and …
There is nothing enjoyable about hurting. People can say they like being sore after a workout or that they get a rush from muscling through challenging physical feats but, even still, it’s not pleasant. What’s worse than physical pain is emotional pain. Deep wounds that come from damaging words, abuse or the loss of a loved one are challenging to …
Questions are amazing things. They are basically invitations. It’s nice to receive an invitation. Maybe you don’t have time to go to the party or attend the event but you were invited and given the opportunity to participate…. and that feels nice. A genuine, thoughtful question is the same. It is like rolling out a red carpet to someone saying ‘I would like to …
Happy New Year! No, it’s not January 1st (at least, it’s not as I am writing this) but on the Hebrew Calendar, tonight is the first of Tishri, known as Rosh HaShana or ‘the head of the year.’ So why should you care that it is the first day of the year on a calendar you likely don’t use? Beyond …
You’ve been given a gift. You have something unique to offer. You’ve studied, worked hard and developed a skill or idea and now it’s ready to be put into action or taken to the marketplace. There’s a problem though. Nobody knows. Seriously, they don’t. Maybe your mom knows or a couple of close friends, but that is honestly about it. Yes, you’ve …
I originally wrote this post after a trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia in October of 2016 to visit my dear friends Robert & Sandrina Jurjevich. I was reminded of it after recording a podcast with them recently. Click here to hear it. Their lives and their friends Bob and Eileen have impacted me greatly. I believe their story will impact you …