I find myself tearing up a lot.
I can watch a
movie knowing exactly what happens and when but still end up a sobbing mess.
There are quite
a few songs that I cannot listen to while I’m driving because my vision will
quickly become obscured by tears.
Voting makes me
emotional because I think about the women preceding me that would be overjoyed
that I can cast a ballot. I also think about the fact that my own grandmother
couldn’t vote because she was Indigenous.
When a friend
tells me something exciting in their life, my heart and eyes swell with pride.
Sometimes,
thinking about a happy memory makes me tear up out of pure nostalgia.
You see, I’m a
sensitive person who has a great capacity for empathy. I feel deeply. My sense
of connection and loyalty to the people around me opens me up to crescendos of
emotion.
Whether it’s my
students, my family, or my friends, I feel those feelings as if they are my
own. Their stories become a part of me. They are woven into the fabric of my
being and allow me to learn, grow, and understand the world
in a
much more meaningful way.
At times, my
chest feels heavy; I'm weighed down by the experiences of others. I walk around
with a sense of turmoil that spins itself round and round in my head. I find
myself bitter, irritable . . . clouded.
These moments
pass. I find joy in what I do again. I take pride in the relationships I’ve
maintained. I’m grateful that I’m the kind of person that others can open up
to. I want to be that person for anyone who needs it.
Despite the
heavy moments, I’ve come to recognize that this is one of my strengths. It
makes me a better teacher, a better friend, and a better person. I listen with
my whole heart and do all I can to be supportive to the people around me. This
is an integral part of what makes me who I am, and I’m proud of that.
I’m still
learning how to navigate being a sensitive person. I’ve come a long way, and
I’m in therapy, I journal (when I remember to do it), and I listen to a lot of
self-care podcasts.
For now, I’m not
sure what it means to emotionally protect myself as an empathetic, sensitive
person in this world, but I’ll get there.
Comments
Post a Comment