EMPATHY...

....for a daughter from a daughter.

Visiting with her brought back the feelings of : this(click here) as this young man voiced concern to her and her family very much the same as he did for our family, kleenex, please.

and this(click here) ....just want to take away the hurt another feel but....not our place to do such so all we can do is stand by and care.

And then this was felt again....(click here) . I did not like feeling all this, yet it is good to feel it too.... Confusing, yes....but the feelings are real and I can honestly say I know how this daughter feels/hurts. Kinda stinks, but experiences are good for us and helps us to know

empathy rather than sympathy

Sympathy essentially implies a feeling of recognition of another's suffering while empathy is actually sharing another's suffering, if only briefly. Empathy is often characterized as the ability to "put oneself into another's shoes".

Empathy develops into an unspoken understanding and mutual decision making that is unquestioned, and forms the basis of tribal community. Sympathy may be positive or negative, in the sense that it attracts a perceived quality to a perceived self identity, or it gives love and assistance to the unfortunate and needy. One feels empathy when one has "been there" and sympathy when one hasn't.....

...and because our family has "been there" these young hands know the sweetness of the elderly!

....enjoying the MOMENT.

SWEETNESS to the fullest... ...and knowing you MATTER as you are.

yep,

a heavy dose of empathy is felt right now for families that are learning the "losses of age".