The Goodness of Others
A friend told me today that she has a real hard time with other people’s feelings–that there are times she feels too empathetic with other people’s feelings, that they overwhelm her. What a wonderful and terrible burden, to understand what others are going through, so much so that it imposes itself on your feelings, your days. What of those who understand what others may be feeling, but ignore it for their own selfish reasons, though? Are they truly selfish, or are they self-preservationists? In the end, I’ve got to trust that the goodness of others will eventually come out, and that sympathy, empathy, sorrow, and regret will wake up and loosen the holds of selfishness. My friend has an amazing gift to see the utmost goodness in others. Lately, I can learn a little bit from her in my world of cynicism.
I’m writing a new series of poems that I wish I could post, but can’t. They are reaching, in the same way, into other people’s feelings, and need focus and distance. I’m glad the poems are coming–I was worried that it would take more time after leaving the ice. But I feel this book (the fourth manuscript, if you can believe it) is coming together in a massive way, faster than I anticipated. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but since I’m drawn to it, I make the time.