Quoting MorningAngel:

Tonight while watching a tv show they dealt with one character's struggle in understanding how the victim felt/feels. In a previous show he had been the one who was victimized and so now he was able to know and understand what was going through their minds at the time.

I started thinking about others, as I so often do. How do you feel when you suddenly realise you know and can understand how another feels? It made me think of different situations where this can occure. For example in racism or discrimination of any sort. So often many of us say things without thinking about what we are saying and not realising how we're discriminating against others. Then I thought about how many of us have simply shrugged off another's pain at a loss or their fears when they find out about Cancer. It hasn't happened to us so we simply can't understand it. Sure we say what we think we're supposed to say at the time. "I'm so sorry. It shouldn't have happened to such a nice person. I'm there if you need me as a friend." But we truly can't understand fully. Or perhaps we don't know how to try to understand.

Sometimes we've been conditioned not to respond or to show emotions in certain situations. Real Men don't cry, remember that saying? Sometimes we're afraid to show emotions and empathy towards others. It tends to be viewed as a weakness in our characther. Or is it?

In the tv show at the end, he asked his co-worker "So how do I deal with it?" The co-worker simply responded "You work with it and allow it to make you a better person." Guess what people, there is more truth in that simple answer. Emapthy isn't a weakness. It's a real strength. Being able to work with our emotions and thoughts is a strength. Being able to think and care about others is a strength. Being able to use that to help others is one of the best strengths in our character.

It doesn't matter the size of the action we take that uses our empathy, it's going to make a difference, in someone else's life.. and in our lives. You see, every time we give something of ourselves, we get it back ten fold.

So don't be afraid to understand and to show that understanding to others. Sometimes even just a knowing smile of support is all it takes to lift a spirit in need. So go for it.

Tonight while watching a tv show they dealt with one character's struggle in understanding how the victim felt/feels. In a previous show he had been the one who was victimized and so now he was able to know and understand what was going through their minds at the time.

I started thinking about others, as I so often do. How do you feel when you suddenly realise you know and can understand how another feels? It made me think of different situations where this can occure. For example in racism or discrimination of any sort. So often many of us say things without thinking about what we are saying and not realising how we're discriminating against others. Then I thought about how many of us have simply shrugged off another's pain at a loss or their fears when they find out about Cancer. It hasn't happened to us so we simply can't understand it. Sure we say what we think we're supposed to say at the time. "I'm so sorry. It shouldn't have happened to such a nice person. I'm there if you need me as a friend." But we truly can't understand fully. Or perhaps we don't know how to try to understand.

Sometimes we've been conditioned not to respond or to show emotions in certain situations. Real Men don't cry, remember that saying? Sometimes we're afraid to show emotions and empathy towards others. It tends to be viewed as a weakness in our characther. Or is it?

In the tv show at the end, he asked his co-worker "So how do I deal with it?" The co-worker simply responded "You work with it and allow it to make you a better person." Guess what people, there is more truth in that simple answer. Emapthy isn't a weakness. It's a real strength. Being able to work with our emotions and thoughts is a strength. Being able to think and care about others is a strength. Being able to use that to help others is one of the best strengths in our character.

It doesn't matter the size of the action we take that uses our empathy, it's going to make a difference, in someone else's life.. and in our lives. You see, every time we give something of ourselves, we get it back ten fold.

So don't be afraid to understand and to show that understanding to others. Sometimes even just a knowing smile of support is all it takes to lift a spirit in need. So go for it.

Quoting statuesque4u:

AF that was a great story. I guess some people with money think that an owner can't or won't get down in the muck just like everyone else. It must be nice to stay pristine and "clean" all the time. He must be one that has never washed his own car!!!!!!LMAo

AF that was a great story. I guess some people with money think that an owner can't or won't get down in the muck just like everyone else. It must be nice to stay pristine and "clean" all the time. He must be one that has never washed his own car!!!!!!LMAo

Quoting angelface10:

Angel...

Hey fellow angel...

It is always hurtful, when others look down at you, act pretentious, or want to speak with someone else...

But sometimes... the laugh is on them !

One day, I was at my Horse Farm, which is actually an estate, and I was walking from one barn to another, and this guy pulls in driving a new Mercedes, and I wave & motion for him to stop... He pulls over, the window comes down, and I say, Can I help you ? He dismisses me... with a arrogant shake of his head, and drives on... I just stood there, half shocked and watched... where he went...

I had been washing horses, and I had my hair in a ponytail, shorts, and I guess I was pretty wet ...

Then, I see him pull up to the barn manager, up ahead on the tractor. I am assuming he figured was my husband, and gets out, to talk with him... And I just stood there, quite amused, the whole time... Then the barn manager, looks my way, and points at me, and the guy gets back in his car, and he drives back up to me, and as he lowers his window...

I looked at him and said, Big mistake, buddy... Save your breath... Whatever you want, I really don't care...smiling.. and as he tries to talk, I shake my head and said, pointing, That... is the way out, & have a Great Day !

Up goes the window, and off he goes, probably never to assume again...

Sometimes in life, there is justice... : )

Angel...

Hey fellow angel...

It is always hurtful, when others look down at you, act pretentious, or want to speak with someone else...

But sometimes... the laugh is on them !

One day, I was at my Horse Farm, which is actually an estate, and I was walking from one barn to another, and this guy pulls in driving a new Mercedes, and I wave & motion for him to stop... He pulls over, the window comes down, and I say, Can I help you ? He dismisses me... with a arrogant shake of his head, and drives on... I just stood there, half shocked and watched... where he went...

I had been washing horses, and I had my hair in a ponytail, shorts, and I guess I was pretty wet ...

Then, I see him pull up to the barn manager, up ahead on the tractor. I am assuming he figured was my husband, and gets out, to talk with him... And I just stood there, quite amused, the whole time... Then the barn manager, looks my way, and points at me, and the guy gets back in his car, and he drives back up to me, and as he lowers his window...

I looked at him and said, Big mistake, buddy... Save your breath... Whatever you want, I really don't care...smiling.. and as he tries to talk, I shake my head and said, pointing, That... is the way out, & have a Great Day !

Up goes the window, and off he goes, probably never to assume again...

Sometimes in life, there is justice... : )