Empathy

     Whenever a friend comes to me after having a rough day, I automatically try to put myself in their situation and try to imagine how I would feel if I were them. This is known as empathy. The word empathy is derived from the word "Einfuhlung" meaning, "how observers project their own sensibilities onto an object of adoration and the enjoying the beauty of it."(355) According to George Mead, "every human takes on the role of another to asses a person's thoughts, behavior, and intentions."(355) Sometimes all a person needs is a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on when they have had a rough day. The challenge most people face however, is the ability to empathize with someone's joy. Being genuinely happy for someone when they are in the spotlight is not always the easiest thing to do. Jealously usually takes over and being a supportive friend flies out the window. For example, in the Bible, Joseph was thrown into a ditch by his jealous brothers. He was the favorite of his father Jacob and was given a special coat of many colors. His brothers did not like this and decided to plot to kill him.(Genesis 37) This story shows that even with your own family, empathizing with someone's joy is not always possible.

It's always goof to listen to your friend and understand what they are going through.

      If you were attacked and robbed by a person on the street, would you want to sit down in front of them and discuss your feelings? The Justice System is now implementing the idea of reconciliation. This allows the victim to share how they felt when attacked and gives the perpetrator a chance to ask for forgiveness. Their hope is that this will reduce crimes in the future and allow the perpetrator to feel remorse and empathize with the victim.(357) I understand where they are coming from with this idea and believe this might be an effective tool to use. Both the victim and the perpetrator can hopefully walk away with some closure. Most victims are left with the question of why after they have been attacked or mistreated. This process will allow them to get answers and maybe see that the perpetrator understands what they did was wrong and are getting some help. This is also good for the perpetrator, because they can see the damage they have done and hopefully when they do get out of prison not make the same mistake all over again. This allows for sympathetic imagination for both parties involved. This is the ability of a person to penetrate the barrier which space puts between him and his object.(426) The barrier in this case is pain. Once you relieve yourself of pain, it is much easier to forgive someone and move on. Without forgiveness, it will be hard for either one to move on with their lives.

You never know what a person is truly going through. Like David Wallace said, 

"We all suffer alone in the real world." That is why it is so important to never judge a book by its cover. "I read back boy this weekend, and finished it in one sitting. I think the most astonishing thing about this book was that it took place in this country in this century. It made me think of how hard some people have struggled to get where they are and how others take everything for granted." Nadine Dolby (397) Growing up as a black girl in Texas, I never noticed being treated differently at a young age. As I grew up however, I began to notice that I was the only black girl in my class. This observation did not make me feel like any less of a person however, it does make me concerned about diversity. I may not feel affected by this personally, but another person might. Being a minority in any situation can make a person extremely uncomfortable. Whether they are black, white, a woman, gay, or transgender they can feel like they don't belong, cannot relate to anyone, or feel like they are alone. A person can be feeling all of these things and most people would never know. Empathy can allow you to put yourself in someone's shoes and think I wonder how it feels to be in their situation, maybe they can use a hug or a friend. Being mindful of this in your everyday life can make a huge difference in someone's life!