A little empathy can go a long way

People should not be defined by their disability. Rather we should lean into our humanity and emphasize our uniqueness.

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, I received a number of phone calls informing me I had ordered a $799 iPhone from Amazon, I had renewed my $99 Amazon Prime account, Microsoft was closing my email account at midnight, I was eligible for solar panels, my car warranty was about to expire and, to top it all off, my Social Security number was being used by an unknown person in Texas. It’s good that I have a landline, a business line and a cellphone or I might have missed one or more of these exciting missives. In addition, I received an email from Firewall Security that I was being billed $449.48 to renew a subscription for a product I never owned in the first place. How lucky am I that so many people reached out to touch me.

In the time of COVID, however, there are good things that can happen. That same Tuesday night, I signed up for a talk by a 21-year-old man, Brandon Farbstein, who had written a book called “Ten Feet Tall.” At the height of 3-foot-9, the size of a 7-yearold, Brandon had endured years of bullying. In high school, he was even called “an ugly midget who should have been killed in the Holocaust.”

Before that occurrence, when he was 11, he almost took his own life. Instead, he became his own advocate and got professional help. He stopped his own isolation and stopped hating he was different.

Calling “our uniqueness is our superpower,” at age 14 he gave a TED X talk and finally “stood in my own truth.” He learned he had to cope with hatred when he was targeted by his peers and be authentic and vulnerable. He worked with the Virginia legislation and helped pass two laws that required empathy to be a class taught in grades kindergarten to 12th. Passionate for his cause, he proved that one voice can change the world. He urged his listeners to volunteer and help rewrite the narrative, starting by being kind to yourself. His life’s mission is to elevate empathy, a goal that should be adopted in every state.

One billion people, or 15 percent of the population, are disabled in some way. Brandon urges gratitude and appreciation for what you have and who you are. Start with a little thing: say hello to someone who looks a little different from you. People should not be defined by their disability. Rather we should lean into our humanity and emphasize our uniqueness. Brandon has also helped develop an adaptive fashion line with companies like Tommy Hilfiger and Nike because purchasing clothing and footware that fit can be a challenge.

He reminds people that “you don’t have to change everything for everything to change. Control your inner world. Be your own hero. Empathy is the key to making others feel strong and belong. Elevate yourself to be Ten Feet Tall. Step into your truth. You are enough. You are limitless. Friendship, love and support connect us.” What wonderful words to inspire us all to make this world a better place, one encouraging word or smile at a time.

Maybe I won’t answer the phone unless it is someone with the wisdom and caring of Brandon Farbstein calling.