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We often try to relate to the pain of others.
Little realizing that it’s not ours to own or compare.
But what does one say when trying to offer comfort or show compassion?
Sometimes, the hard truth may be the best words to convey.
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The dark glasses and the invisible cloak of ‘stay away from me’. We all wore them in some way or the other when we first entered this white-walled hall. It was a cleansing ground. A place for gradually dismissing the burdens we carried – whiten those blackened souls. Some did it better […]
I Don’t Know What it’s like to be You — Gobblers & Masticadores
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Written with tenderness and compassion, Terveen. There is an old saying about not knowing someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes. I think this is a great illustration of that.
Thanks so much, Davy. Definitely, walking in the same shoes is the only way to really know…
An amazingly painful and sad write, which showcases the depth of human pain, and the heights of empathy and compassion. Excellent. 😊
Thank you so much, Jeff. Life is very much a reflection of human connections. At times, solitude, at times, company. 🙂
You’re most welcome, Terveen. Ah, a reflection of human connections, indeed. I completely agree. 😊
it’s a delicate topic, Terveen, unimaginably sad but written with care and compassion —
Thank you very much, John. Yes, such subjects are very delicate. 🙂
This hit me right in the feels. How good you touch on the subject of mourning and how people deal with it. Sometimes the best way to show empathy is to say you don’t know how the person may feel.
Thanks so much for being onboard with this thought and feeling. It’s so difficult to understand another’s sorrow especially when grief has many aspects and levels to it. It’s better to be honest and lend a compassionate ear.
Beautiful and poignant writing, Terveen! Wonderfully weaved, and the last line leaves a powerful impact.
Thanks so much, Aaysid. I really appreciate it. 🙂
We often feel something or say something without really know the person concerned. That’s just an unfortunate aspect of life. If we know the true story, we would be shocked and we would feel very differently and would have said different things…
That’s the truth, Haoyan. Not knowing, then assuming, and reacting on half-baked assumptions isn’t really the right thing to do. Maybe it’s better to be honest and admit that one’s clueless about the situation. Thanks for sharing your wise thoughts. 🙂
I often make such mistakes.
We all do. Damn human instinct. 🙂
You’ve handled a difficult topic with grace and thoughtfulness, and the result is a story that has left a deep impression. We can never take the burden of sorrow away from another person, though we may try. Loss of this magnitude changes us permanently and the trajectories of our lives are never the same. I can’t imagine the strength of the woman in the story to be able to attend a support group in the wake of such an event. I believe just knowing there are people who care can go a long way in helping us through grief. Knowing we’re not alone, that others have trod this same road before us, may offer a bit of solace. But in the end, we carry the yoke of our sorrow on our own shoulders. Thanks for touching on this topic, Terveen, and for handling it so beautifully. 🙂
“Knowing we’re not alone, that others have trod this same road before us, may offer a bit of solace. But in the end, we carry the yoke of our sorrow on our own shoulders. ”
Couldn’t have said this better, Mike. Yes, it is the knowing that can offer a bit of comfort, but the burden is to be carried alone. I thank you, Mike, for being there with your wise words and difficult experiences. Being human isn’t a birthright. it has to be earned. Take care and keep writing. There’s much more to be discovered in the pursuit of finding oneself. 🙂