These past few days have been strange. For reasons that fall into the category of 'none of your business', I'm not going to get into the details.
Suffice it to say that it has me re-evaluating my entire existence of operating in cruise control.
From my early days of toddlerism, I have been taught to be like everyone else, and to this day, doing anything different from what Guddu is doing is considered only next to Blasphemy. Afterall, Guddu is the knower of all things mundane.
So just for kicks, I recently had a 'chat' with the powers that be aka my parents, and in a nutshell this is how that conversation went...
"Mom, Dad, I have a dream, I am going to..."
"You will fail"
"But Mom, Dad, I have faith, and am sure with hard work, dedication and pursuing my passion, eventually I will find success in pursuing my dreams" (okay, these may not have been my exact words. Creative liberties have been enlisted)
"You will fail"
"But mom... "
"Fine. Whatever."
(Awkward Silence. Indefinite pause.)
"You will fail"
Under normal circumstances, I would have considered those words of wisdom to be the grail of all that is holy and my dreams, hopes and aspirations would have been squished like a hungry mosquito. However, these are not normal circumstances.
Thank you Mr. Covid uncle.
Today, I'm looking at the world differently. I am thinking that life truly is short, and you get one shot at living it.
So as I lift the proverbial finger into the air and point it at my arch nemesis, Guddu, it is decided that changes are forthcoming.
However, none of this has anything to do with what I really wanted to talk with you bored folks today. Today's topic, as the title suggests, is about empathy.
Now, emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.
When I was a kid, empathy did not exist. Not once when I was young did my folks go, 'Oh son, I'm so sorry ur going through this situation. We understand you must be an emotional wreck right now'. No. Instead they were much too focused on their crashed car. The trauma!!!
So you could say its not entirely my fault that I am, as they say, emotionally unavailable.
Miss Empathy and I first met each other round about 15 years back. It was my job to help the good folks at an Electrical Company resolve their IT issues over the phone. I remember the trainer at the time saying, 'You have to show empathy. You have to be more mindful of people's emotions and feelings', and what not.
As I nodded, I thought then and still think now, 'You're calling the fuckin IT desk to resolve a computer issue. If you need emotional support, see a therapist'.
Anyhoo, I digress, Over the years, and it has been 15 years since I first met the Lady of the E, I have come to realize there are others like me. Emotionally confused folks who dont get what the essence of Empathy truly is.
For all you out there, Empathy can simply be defined as the art of giving a fuck, when it was never your fuck to give, or your fuckup to begin with - as you speak in a soft voice.
My job here is done. You are welcome World.
Now go back to Youtube or Tik Tok, or whatever it is you were doing.
Syko Out.
