Love Notes for Empathy

Posted on November 25, 2025 by Catherine Cheng, MD

OK friends, I am positively obsessed with the Crowns trilogy by Nicola Tyche, oh my goodness. After binging the books, neglecting all others for two weeks, I started the whole series over almost immediately. I never do this! I found the paperback omnibus on Amazon today and purchased immediately; I’ll mark it up according to my audio bookmarks and hopefully document everything I admire about it here after this 30 day challenge ends. The wickedly twisted plot, heroic character development, and gorgeous prose–I’m easily affected by books, but this is truly beyond. This is the third set of Love Notes inspired by Crowns, and I won’t be surprised if it’s not the last.

What books have affected you deeply? Hmmm, maybe I’ll convene a book club around that question and others one day. That could be different and fun.

When I feel your empathy, I trust you. I open to you. Thank you for this gift of human connection. Please keep offering this to us fellow humans.

2. To the judges therapists nurses law enforcement officers and all who experience the burden of vicarious trauma – may your empathy prevail over burnout.

3. Empathy requires openness and vulnerability – all human connection does. This means risk. May your bravery be rewarded so lavishly that it becomes your nature.

4. Hey friend – I know it can be hard, but let’s try our best to offer our empathy equally to all fellow humans, yes? It’s what we are called to, no?

5. When we come across someone from elsewhere, alone among us locals, may we imagine their feelings and engage with open kindness. It’s the good thing to do.

6. When I lashed out at you in anger and you turned to me in empathy and kindness, you changed me. I am still humbled and convicted from that moment. Thank you.

7. To my friends who bring stories to life – your own or others – thank you for fostering empathy and understandin(g) in us all.

8. Why is empathy so scary sometimes? Seeing ourselves in others, especially in their pain, is painful – thus scary. Let us call forth courage to face all our pain together.

9. “I’ve known this…” sadness grief loneliness anxiety May we all attend to this awareness and honor it.

10. Let us all attune and attend to the empathy of others, let the connection saturate us, so we may offer it widely, every day.

11. Empathy Kindness Compassion Generosity Connection — Regardless where we start, we can land on them all, and we’re all better for it.

12. Are your intentions malicious and hostile? No? then why might you automatically assume another’s are? Let us all practice more generously, please.

Oh I like this set, my friends. Definitely helps to have specific people in mind for each one.
Starting to consider what to do with these 360 love notes at the end of thirty days. Any ideas?

Love Notes for Listening

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Catherine Cheng, MD

When was the last time you felt truly heard and understood? When not?
How well do we really listen to one another?
How much meaning and connection do we miss, without even knowing, and then wonder why our relationships are not better?
Oooo, this one could be fun.

May those close to you attune to you with such fine fidelity that they see and hear you with minimal effort on your part. And you them.

2. May we practice our excellent, present, empathic, and loving listening skills–especially when it’s the most difficult–that’s when we hone mastery!

3. [Written during in flight turbulence] What is your body trying to tell you? Do you hear its signals? What language does it speak? Are you fluent? May you and it connect often and well!

4. When we feel heard, we feel loved. May you feel these multiple times a day, and may you help others feel it, too. This is the best human reciprocity–it’s where love lives.

5. We know we are truly listening when we find ourselves getting more curious as the encounter continues. The potential for connection rises awesomely then!

6. [More turbulence] When you are blessed with someone who truly listens to you, who makes you feel heard, may you notice and appreciate and then emulate!

7. We spend so much of our lives speaking. May your speech land on ears open to your meaning, open to connection and understanding, so you may feel truly heard.

8. When you leave and encounter with me, may you feel seen, heard, understood, accepted, and loved. Then may you pay it forward. The world is just better this way, no?

9. “Listen! You smell something?” Haha! But seriously, our senses do overlap. When we get present, they integrate and synergize! So cool!

10. We are so imperfect, every one of us! But let this not keep us from striving daily to be our best! Practice your excellent listening — it’s worth the effort!

11. I feel so heard by you because you listen not just to my words but you sense context and know what my words me to me, and that is your focus. You are selfless here.

12. What makes you an awesome listener? When you turn on this superpower, how does it light up the world? May you have ample opportunities to shine!

Back in Chicago, friends. Refreshed, recharged, and inspired. More tomorrow! xo

Love Notes for Creativity

Posted on November 23, 2025 by Catherine Cheng, MD

I had promised Sister to bring some of my pretty washi tape cards from Chicago for her to donate. But they are squirreled away under a mountain of clutter and I did not dig them out in time before flying to Colorado this trip. Then at Target today I saw cardstock and a paper cutter, and since I already have a generous stash of washi tape here in the mountains, I decided to spend tonight making cards. I haven’t done this in a couple years, maybe?

It all makes me think about creativity. We associate it with the arts, obviously. But creativity applies in every domain of life. All elegant problem solving requires creativity, no matter how technical or left-brained. And in order to access our creativity, we must be open. Openness can feel vulnerable. So we need courage.

Isn’t it wonderful how all of these things intersect to make us better? Let’s see how creative I can get with a dozen jar smiles, eh? 😀

What fun new idea knocks around in your head? Who can you share it with and play around to develop it? How will you bring it forth?

2. Creative, resourceful, and whole. This is the fundamental assumption coaches make of clients. You have what you need to make your life.

3. I wish you a benign challenge that makes you invent solutions you may never have come to otherwise. May it give you confidence and agency!

4. Be brave with your ideas and make things with openness and joy! 😀 Ignore dismissal and celebrate praise! You’ got this!

5. UNconventional, hallelujah! Humanity evolves at an accelerating pace! Your creativity will serve you better and BETTER.

6. May you free your imagination and spark your creativity this day when you come upon anything requiring new and innovative thinking! You’ got this!

7. I bet you are much more creative than you give yourself credit for! Where will you try something new next? No fear!

8. Rest. Fuel. Watch. Listen. Breathe. You will see the novel solutions to the pressing challenges when you are settled, centered, and wholly YOU.

9. What if? Why not? What about…? Look around. See anew the things considered mundane. This is how we create!! Woohooo!

10. What are the foundations of creativity? I think they are calm, openness, vulnerability, courage, and FUN. And love. Because love is the foundation of everything.

11. What lies in our future that we have not nearly imagined? How will we create and invent it? May you have a hand in making your future bright!

12. Just try it! You never know how you will like it or be awesome at it if you don’t give it a shot! Have fun!

I realize that I enjoy writing these love notes a lot more when I have specific people in mind. So for the remaining week of this month, I will do this more consistently. Let’s see if they get better!