Recommended for you

Being The Empathetic Friend

May 25, 2021

532

Being the person who stayed up countless nights texting, calling, or going to comfort a friend, I know a little bit about empathy. First off, let's not get empathy and sympathy confused. Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, that you pity what they are going through. Empathy is when you take on these emotions yourself. And this is what made me such a "good" friend. I was there for anything, not because I felt sorry for my friends, but I felt their sadness within myself. I took form in their emotions and transferred them into my life. The first time I felt true empathy was at my best friend's grandma's funeral when we were in the fourth grade. I had went not because I knew her grandma, but because I knew I needed to be there for my friend. The wave of grief and sadness I felt, the uncontrollable tears I had for someone I did not even know didn't make much sense to me; however, I knew these emotions helped me help her. She could see that I understood her hurt because I hurt with her. I knew how to help her through her hurt because I placed her hurt within myself.

From this moment forward, I would take on all their emotions. When a friend had a breakup, bad day, or even just going through it for the moment, I took on these emotions to help them. I didn't pity them, I felt with them. I wanted to understand their hurt and hurt with them so I could help them heal. And as amazing as this sounds, all of these things that made me a "good friend" absolutely exhausted me.

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Entertainment

7 Reasons To Watch One Tree Hill

"There is only one tree hill, Jaime Scott."

Susquehanna University

285

Wikipedia Commons

If you need a new series to watch, I recommend One Tree Hill. I watched this series three times now and it only keeps getting better. If you need any more reasons beside the fact that all of the seasons are on Netflix for your binge-watching pleasure, here are seven more reasons to watch it.

Keep Reading...Show less

one tree hill

Relationships

The 5 Pros and Cons Of Long Distance Friendships

Being friends with someone thousands of miles away has its drawbacks and perks.

Butler University

1062

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

True friendship is incredibly rare, and to find a friend that will be there for you through all of life's curveballs is something quite unique. To add distance into the equation, maintaining a real, true friendship can be a struggle. There are good and bad parts that come with long distance friendship.

Keep Reading...Show less

long distance friendship

Relationships

What I've Learned About Friendship During My First Year Of High School

Friendship isn't always as easy as it's made out to be.

Tuscaloosa, AL

739

Tori Horne

Friendship. It's defined as the state of being attached to another person by feelings of affection or personal regard, but what really is friendship? Is it that occasional hallway talk with that one person who always manages to cheer you up? Is it that relationship you have with someone where they can be gone for a long period of time, but when they come back, it's like they never left? Is it spending every waking hour with someone, and knowing every detail about their life? Is it the relationship that's filled with fighting, but filled with even more resolution? I've learned that it's all of these things, and every friendship is different. It's a beautifully dysfunctional mess that should always be cherished and never be taken for granted.

Keep Reading...Show less

high school

Relationships

25 Things I Want My Younger Cousins To Know

A little advice for my original best friends

Missouri State University

2194

Bailey Totten

I've known you your entire life. More than likely I held you in the first three days of it and at least one of us cried. Cousins are truly one of the best things in the world and while sometimes I complain about how many people crowd Grandma's living room on Christmas Eve, I wouldn't trade you all anything.

You are my best friends, the only people who can understand what it's like on Thanksgiving, and you are the spunkiest people I have ever met. But you as so so young, most of you are just now starting your adventures in the public education system. I mean, I'm so very young too. I'm not married, I don't have children, heck, I just started my adult life, but I do want to give you what little advice I have. My dears, these are the things I want you to know.