Let's Talk: Empathy

Apparently I'm a sensitive person, overly so. Get me angry, I can either be so passive-aggressive it's disconcerting, or I can be 2 inches away from punching something. Find me when I'm upset, and I either burst into tears, or just shut up for a while.

Apparently, though, I also get upset on behalf of other people in my life. I can honestly be fiercely angry if one of my friends, the people I care for, are upset, and probably the 2 inches away from punching something kind of angry.

Then empathy comes into play.

empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

A friend of mine was upset this week by some stuff going on in their family. As well as being exceedingly pissed off by their situation, and worried for them, I also began to relate what I knew them to be feeling to a similar situation I had experienced a long while back. The situation I'd been in, because it happened when I was 12, I'd never talked about it in full, as it had felt entirely too private, seeing as it involved stuff with mum's work, and after a while, I'd let it all go. With the reminder, though, my blood boiled all the more.

So, I'm going to say this now. Seeing a parent messed up can seriously mess you up, but you have to remember that whats going on isn't your fault, it really isn't. Make sure you're there for your parents, supportive, but remember that for me, please.

As I've mentioned before, my life has changed quite dramatically in this last year; the business that's been a part of my life since I was born has left my life, the dog I've had for as long as I can remember was put down, so I suppose that's all contributed, as well as the recent exam stress. It piles and piles, building like a mountain. You think you can ski on it, but once you try, an avalanche begins. You can run from an earthquake or a volcano, but avalanches really can't be escaped.

Back to empathy, because tangents are real here @ Pen and Key. Much as I hate being such a sensitive person, I generally would rather I were empathetic when it comes to my friends' problems rather than apathetic. I'd rather be able to relate and understand, maybe even give advice from my own experiences than do nothing to help.

Heavy topic, but food for thought, nonetheless. It's finally stopped snowing, after what must have been a good 3-4 inches of snow this afternoon, which is brilliant for the weekend, but I really don't want to walk through snow to get through school this next week. Then again, it's only for a week, and there's a half day on Friday. Then it's Christmas people!

So I shall leave you with this snowy weekend (in the North East anyway) and see you next week for the next installment of my December Writing Wednesdays!