I guess something I do that I find interesting and I guess other people do it as well is to gloss past people's struggles and only focus on the success part of it. For example if I meet a rich surgeon, that last thing that will probably come to my my mind is what it much have felt like to go through all those years in school and residencies, fellowships etc. I immediately think, "Wow, that guy must be making a fortune!" Which he probably is but that's besides the point.
I thought about this today when I heard somebody I knew had quit his job after being there less then 6 months. Interestingly, this was the same person that was like "Don't quit, don't quit" when it was becoming unbearable for me. Now, don't get me wrong, he did the right thing by encouraging me. I would have done the same thing if I were in his shoes. But how come he's quit his first job as a pharmacist when he was the one doing all that encouraging? Now to cut him a little slack, the place he was working at, very very snotty. You had to look a certain way, live in a certain part of Memphis, and talk in a certain way. He neither looked, talked or acted the part. So they made his life miserable. Also it could be because he could afford to pick and choose but right now I don't have much of a choice because if I walk away, I don't get my certificate. However, it still stings a little when people are flippant about your situation.
"Oh, you can do it" they say "Its not a big deal."
"Yes, it is a big deal" I feel like replying or even screaming
Its not easy to put yourself in someone else's shoes, I've realized. Hopefully, from now on I can learn to empathize more with people instead of being quick to say something flippant when they narrate their stress to me.

posted by lala @ 3:46 PM

1 Comments:

At Thu Jan 11, 07:35:00 PM 2007, Jennifer A. said…

so true...can't sympathize...