Empathy is the all-important ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. Meryl Streep has displayed a remarkable ability to connect and find commonality with other people throughout her lauded career, but this ability is equally vital in our everyday lives. Empathizing with others helps us gain a deeper appreciation of varying perspectives while fostering connection and fueling compassion. Streep's quote reminds us of the importance of empathy in our lives and its potential to make a significant difference in the world.

In the early years of his life, Robert Frost worked as a teacher, cobbler, editor, and farmer, but it is poetry for which he will always be remembered. In 1912, Frost and his wife, Elinor, moved to England, where he was inspired by the prominent English poets of the day, including Robert Graves, Edward Thomas, and Ezra Pound. By the time the couple returned to the states in 1915, Frost had published two full-length poetry collections. In the decades that followed, he received four Pulitzer Prizes as well as many other accolades and honors; in 1961 he became the first poet to speak at a presidential inauguration, reciting his patriotic poem "The Gift Outright." Frost always maintained that he preferred the company of eccentric, interesting people. In a 1952 interview with “The New Yorker,” the poet espoused his preference for “people who have as much personality as I have,” concluding that “freedom lies in being bold.”

Author Barbara Kingsolver recognizes that change is not only hard, but also scary. Even when we know it’s coming, even when we think we’re prepared for it, change requires us to step outside our comfort zone and embrace new ideas. In her fiction, Kingsolver frequently explores themes of redemption, love, and justice, with the evolution of her characters hinging on their ability and willingness to change. And in her 2002 essay collection “Small Wonder,” she juxtaposes the joys of life with the realities of war and violence, using an anecdote about a bear who protected a lost child to encourage us to reevaluate the way we perceive the world and the threats against us. This quote and the accompanying story remind us that the anticipation of change is often far scarier than any reality — and that in the willingness to consider the tenderness of a wild beast or the humanity of an enemy lies our ability to become better, more compassionate human beings.