Even if we don't push others away with anger or hatred, we can easily overlook people and unknowingly withhold our kindness. This can be most striking in relation to those whom Buddhist compassion practices describe as "neutral" people — those who evoke neither a negative nor positive response. They might be the postman, children in the carpool, the spouse of a friend, a distant relative. In teaching compassion practices I sometimes ask students to choose someone they see regularly but are not personally involved with. When they have brought this person to mind, I invite them to consider, "What does he or she need?" "What does this person fear?" "What is life like for this person?"

Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance