About this quote

Apathy erases what makes life matter by refusing to notice. When people stop caring, problems stay unsolved and people go unseen. Ask yourself who you ignore right now: a colleague, a neighbor, a memory. If you want to change that, do one simple thing today — show up, ask a direct question, or state the problem and stay present.

When to use it

• At a staff meeting where complaints about overtime get shrugged off, I said, 'We can't ignore this. Let's pick one step to try this week.'
• After my dad hinted he felt alone at dinner, I asked, 'When can I come sit with you next week?'
• When a friend stopped replying during a rough patch, I called and said, 'I'm here, tell me one thing you need right now.'
• At a gallery where my painting was passed over, I muttered to myself, 'Indifference isn't harmless. I'll show this to one mentor tomorrow.'