I was waiting on the side of a busy street. Traffic flowed by like thoughts in neural pathways, sometimes speeding, sometimes congested. I saw occasional acts of kindness and many missed opportunities to make people feel better. Across the street the automatic doors of a large supermarket were opening and shutting continuously.A woman emerged carrying several paper bags filled with groceries. A box fell off the top of one and her careful balancing act was in jeopardy. She was in a dilemma that I was sadly unable to help her with; and no one else around even seemed to notice. At such moments a universal empathy switches on. I knew what it was like, the feeling of awkwardness, foolishness, irritation with self and the universe. It was not hard to imagine her instinctive thoughts. Should she