We All Experience Today Differently – So Let’s Lead With Compassion

There are more than 8.2 billion people on this planet. That’s 8.2 billion hearts beating through all sorts of experiences, joy, grief, overwhelm, relief, heartbreak, and hope.

And yet, it’s so easy to forget that as we go about our day. We might pass a hundred people without giving a second thought to what their day looks like. But the truth is, not one of us experiences today the same way.

I’ve spent years travelling this country as The Unbreakable Farmer, sharing my story in shearing sheds, footy clubs, classrooms, workshops, construction sites, boardrooms, and community halls. One thing I’ve learned from all those conversations is this:

Everyone is carrying something. And often, it’s not what you’d expect.

Someone might look like they’ve got it all together on the outside, but inside they’re barely hanging on. Others might be short or distracted and it’s easy to take it personally but maybe they’ve just had a phone call that’s flipped their whole world upside down. Maybe they didn’t sleep because their toddler was sick. Maybe they’re struggling with something they haven’t told a soul.

Compassion matters. Understanding matters. Kindness matters.

Not just in the big moments, when tragedy strikes or disaster hits, but in the everyday interactions. The quick chat at the counter of the local rural store. The wave to your neighbour. The way you speak to your apprentice when they make a mistake. The time you take to actually ask someone how they’re travelling, and mean it.

You don’t need to be a mental health professional to make a difference. You just need to be human. To care. To notice.

When we lead with understanding instead of judgment, we create safer spaces for people to be real. When we show compassion instead of criticism, we build trust. And when we act with kindness, especially when it’s hard, we become the kind of people that others know they can turn to when the going gets tough.

I know this because I’ve lived both sides of it.

There was a time when I felt like I’d lost everything, my farm, my purpose, my identity. I shut the gate on my old life and didn’t know where to turn. What pulled me through wasn’t a magic solution or a big gesture. It was small acts of kindness. Mates who checked in. Strangers who didn’t judge. Community members who just sat with me when I couldn’t find the words.

That’s the kind of strength we can all carry. Not the strength of powering through or pretending everything’s fine, but the strength to show up for each other with honesty, care and respect.

We’ve all had days where we’re not okay. Some of us are in the thick of it right now. And for others, today might be a good day, but tomorrow, who knows?

That’s why this message is for everyone.

Whether you’re running a business, raising a family, just starting out in your trade, recovering from tough times, supporting a mate through theirs, or doing your best to keep the wheels turning, you matter. And so do the people around you.

So I invite you to take a breath and remember: You never know what someone’s today looks like.

Maybe today they’re holding it together with everything they’ve got. Maybe they’re feeling completely invisible. Maybe they’re hoping someone will notice they’re not okay but they’re too scared to say it.

And maybe… you’re that person today.

If that’s the case, know this: You’re not alone. It’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. And there’s no shame in struggling, it’s part of being human. Reach out. Speak up. Let someone walk beside you.

And if today is a good day for you, reach out to someone else. A text, a call, a conversation over a cuppa can go a long way. Be the reason someone remembers today as the day they felt seen.

Compassion is free but its impact is priceless. Understanding creates connection. Kindness saves lives.

Let’s not wait until someone’s in crisis to show up. Let’s start now, with how we speak, how we listen, and how we treat each other.

Because out of 8.2 billion people on this planet, the one thing we all have in common is this: We need each other.

And together, we can create a world where everyone feels they matter, even on the hard days.

Let’s keep checking in. Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep being kind.