Empathy Over Earnings

July 12, 2023 : Episode 105

I'm appalled by the lack of empathy in some of our community members. Oftentimes, people will seek emergency, last minute pet sitter requests due to a death in the family. Countless people respond that they provide this service. Few, if any, offer condolences. In this most recent occasion, I was the ONLY person who did. We're not available for overnight service for this person, so I offered to post in our group in an attempt to help find suitable care for their home & pets. I also offered to provide daytime care if they were unable to find overnight service.

In other instances, people will offer to give away tangible items, due to a death or other life event. People comment that they "want the couch", etc. Rarely does anyone recognize that there's a hurting person on the other end of the post. I have no desire or need for the items, but post that I'm sending hugs. I feel that people may be rushed & perhaps don't realize how they're coming off. I know that our community isn't a group of vultures. However, it may appear that way to the person who is in pain & hasn't experienced an ounce of empathy. Compassion should be freely offered to strangers, not reserved exclusively for loved ones.

Please remember that people have emotions, experiences, etc. Please give as well as take. Simply because life events are inevitable doesn't mean that we should become insensitive to them.

Nakala