Does anyone else feel like “count your blessings” is just a fuck up way of people telling you, “at least you’re not THAT guy?”
[Imagines a woman sleeping on a park bench and a family with kids living in a van]
Why can’t we just BE without people making us feel obligated to compare ourselves to others (specifically, those less fortunate) and on top of that feel GUILTY about those feelings? Guilty for our bad days, our losses, our health/lack of good health, our house, our happiness, etc.?
I can feel any way about a certain number of things without needing to “count my [fucking] blessings.” It doesn’t make me a bad person and it doesn’t mean that I don’t give a shit about others. It just means I’m a person who is allowed to feel things and I don’t need to stomp on others to feel them or be made to feel bad about feeling them.
Yet, “count your blessings” is some how supposed to make us feel better? Feel gratitude? Or does it just make us feel like an ungrateful piece of shit?
Keep your holy guilt trip and let me BE.
Creative Collective 
There’s a beautiful video on YouTube of Brene Brown explaining empathy versus sympathy. It depicts how quick we are to solve someone’s problems with a simple response such as “count your blessings” instead of sitting in the thick of mud with another’s seemingly somber or low emotion. It’s an uncomfortable and powerless feeling to not find the silver lining for someone we love, but it’s necessary to show we truly care. Once I realized this person(s) simply wasn’t taught through action how to be empathetic, it rang true on how to better demonstrate and encourage them how in the ways I need it most. I’m sitting with you in this and offering a virtual hug, sister. Forever upholding your spirit in love.
There’s a beautiful video on YouTube of Brene Brown explaining empathy versus sympathy. It depicts how quick we are to solve someone’s problems with a simple response such as “count your blessings” instead of sitting in the thick of mud with another’s seemingly somber or low emotion. It’s an uncomfortable and powerless feeling to not find the silver lining for someone we love, but it’s necessary to immerse ourselves within the binding of their wounds to show we much we truly care. Once I realized this person(s) simply wasn’t taught through action how to be empathetic, it rang true on how to better demonstrate and encourage them how in the ways I need it most. I’m sitting with you in this and offering a virtual hug – and “for here” cup of support, sister. Forever upholding your spirit in love. Xo Ape
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this and I’m going to look for that video. Thanks 💛
LikeLike
There’s a beautiful video on YouTube of Brene Brown explaining empathy versus sympathy. It depicts how quick we are to solve someone’s problems with a simple response such as “count your blessings” instead of sitting in the thick of mud with another’s seemingly somber or low emotion. It’s an uncomfortable and powerless feeling to not find the silver lining for someone we love, but it’s necessary to immerse ourselves within the binding of their wounds to show we much we truly care. Once I realized this person(s) simply wasn’t taught through action how to be empathetic, it rang true on how to better demonstrate and encourage them how in the ways I need it most. I’m sitting with you in this and offering a virtual hug – and “for here” cup of support, sister. Forever upholding your spirit in love. Xo Ape
LikeLike