Wednesday, October 29, 2008

i guess it helps


empathy. it didn't used to make that much of a difference to me if other people empathized with my situation. actually...i used to say that i could give a rip if any one else feels the same as me or has felt the same as me....it didn't help me in that moment at all...it just made it worse.

i'm not sure why, but i think i've changed my opinion.

yesterday i was having coffee with a good friend and he was listening to me gripe and sharing stories of his own with me...and i realized...."wow, i feel better. i don't feel like i'm all alone in this". it was reassuring...feeling that someone else had experienced the same as me in the past. maybe i'm growing....maybe?

what do you think? does it help when people empathize with you?

6 comments:

Nicholle said...

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

I guess it depends on what it is...

Gena said...

Communitcatin is what helps me. I don't always need advice or understanding. Sometimes a good listener who lets me just get it all out is enough.

Glad to hear you are feeling better

Cheryl said...

I think as we mature we understand that life isn't as easy as we thought it would be and appreciate knowing that other people are (or have been) in the same boat and have survived!

Chelle said...

I'm assuming that your "good friend" only said nice things about me....

jeramy sossaman said...

we didn't even talk about you. :-)

Chelle said...

Even better.