What if Irony is Judging Others for Lacking Empathy?
Some people
are difficult
to work with.
We say that
as if difficulty
is abnormal.
Would life be better
if life were easier?
Or is part of what makes life
better
is that it is
difficult?
When we admit
that easy
does not exist
in the absence
of difficulty,
we realize
There are times
when the distinction between us
and others,
seem to explain why
we are unworthy
of respect.
There are also times
when the distinction
between us
and others,
seem to explain why
we are worthy
of respect.
In the former,
the distinction creates isolation,
while in the latter
When we give someone
advice
then find ourselves feeling
frustrated
or angry
for not following
our advice
ponder the possibility
that we have yet to recover
from a pain we incurred
in our past
and projecting ourselves
on to others.
The moment
we feel like we have
so much work to do
may be the very moment
we need to step back
and actually scope out
the landscape
as opposed to
jumping in
and getting to work.
One way to notice
that we’re genuinely
innovating
is to notice
that we don’t know
what we’re doing.
If we know
what we’re doing
we’re probably just
following the steps
of manufacturing.
Are you
a verb?
or
Are you
a noun?
If you’re a verb
you put your self-worth
on the verb.
If you’re a noun
you put your self-worth
on the noun.
The choice
is yours
and yours
only.
With care
and compassion,
I looked at my child
wanting to fix
what may be broke.
Maybe his trousers were unbuckled.
Maybe his socks weren’t up.
Maybe his hairs aren’t combed.
Having realized empathy,
I now appreciate
the fact
that all they saw
was my critical face.
“What did depression
feel like?”
the counselor asked me.
“It felt…
meaningless.” I responded.
“I’m afraid
my presentation
will fail.”
said the founder.
“What do you mean
‘fail?’”
I asked.
“It won’t impact
my employees.”
he responded.
“You’re assuming
that your employees
will even listen.”
I commented.
He laughed.
And that
was what he needed to hear
to release his anxiety
and express himself
instead of pandering to the audience
The moment we realize
what we made
came
through us
not
from us
may also be the moment
where we start to be
with
them
not
for tham.