March Newsletter-Empathy can change your Day

Marissa Villescas
Mar 1, 2025
3 min read

Too Busy to Read right now?

Here are 4 things to take home with you.

Be Kind, Empathy can change your day
I think your amazing lunchbox note, pass it on
Hummingbird food (please start feeding these hungry birds)
Home is where the hummingbirds are. (My Nature Photography)

Hello Friends and Colorful Humans,

I hope you're doing well and that the last few weeks of February have brought you at least a few cozy moments with your family and loved ones. With everything happening in the world—especially here in America—it can be hard to find those moments of joy. But seeking them out is important, even an act of rebellion. (See my second post of the year, Creativity Will Save the World).

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the weather has been all over the place—wildly sunny in January, followed by freezing snowstorms, flooding atmospheric rivers, and now, the slow arrival of spring. With so much unpredictability outside, I’ve been trying to hold onto a sense of stability within myself. It’s not always easy when both the world and the weather feel like a whirlwind, making it hard to know how to move forward some days.

A few years ago, I discovered I have ADHD (and probably a few other things too), and it’s led to a lot of “Ohh, that makes sense now” moments. If you have ADHD, you know what I mean—those realizations like, Ohh, that’s why I do that or Wait… other people don’t do this every day? One of the biggest ohh moments for me has been understanding how my empathy works. ADHD and empathy can be complicated—some people struggle with it, while others feel everything intensely. I fall into the latter category, and by the end of the day, my heart feels like it’s run a marathon.

Every little thing tugs at me—the latest headlines, mass layoffs, children going hungry across the world, wildfires close to home, or even a dog in a shelter that needs someone right now. All it takes is opening one or two apps, and suddenly, an hour (or two) is gone, my mind wrapped up in something I can’t fix in the moment.

But I’ve learned that small acts of kindness help me navigate this. Little by little, I can channel that energy into something tangible—something that makes a difference in someone’s day. And we can do that, together support our fellow humans. We can bring light to someone’s world, however small it may seem.

So, for this week's lunchbox note, I’ve created a fill-in-the-blank printable (or something you can write yourself) to send to someone—just to remind them of what makes them amazing. Let’s spread joy, belonging, community, and love. Let’s remind each other that we are part of something bigger, a home of supportive people. .

A Quick Update!I’m working on opening a print shop (hopefully by summer!) featuring my art, illustrations, and professional nature photography. Expect tiny worlds, Flora Lane houses, birds, stickers, and more. But I need people! If you could help spread the word, I’d be so grateful. Make sure you have signed up on my website, www.MarissaVillescas.com.