I have been watching a show recently that has slowly changed my entire vision of empathy. I am a naturally empathetic person, I think, and my life has had some hard moments, which give me insight into other people's painful situations which accentuate that trait. So it is generally easy for me to feel empathy for others. But in watching this show about people struggling with a condition that is completely unfamiliar to me, I find myself in new territory. And I have had a slow realization.
We do not have to walk a mile in someone's shoes to understand their pain is real. In fact, it makes no difference at all if we have any idea of what they are going through. Because their pain is real to them, and it should still matter to us, if we have any ounce of humanity in us. Even if we don't understand it, have never felt it, can't relate to it, even if we don't think its that big of a deal, even, and this is the big one here for me, because I tend to engage in a lot of self-blame, if it is self-inflicted, their pain is still legitimate, its still big to them, and its still a burden on their heart. Isn't that really all we need to know?
