Comments on: Is it possible to have too much empathy? http://pauseforpurpose.com/2009/05/is-it-possible-to-have-too-much-empathy/ Slowing down and noticing what’s extraordinary, humorous and meaningful in the everyday. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:43:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Mark K http://pauseforpurpose.com/2009/05/is-it-possible-to-have-too-much-empathy/comment-page-1/#comment-4658 Mark K Thu, 28 May 2009 01:13:00 +0000 http://pauseforpurpose.com/2009/05/is-it-possible-to-have-too-much-empathy/#comment-4658 I found a couple of dollars on the street myself a while ago and saved them, thinking I could pass on the good luck in some way. I put the bills in the little change pocket in my jeans and forgot about them. A few weeks later I was buying some bike parts for my son at this used bike shop. It turns out that they take cash only and I was two dollars short. The owner grabbed two bucks from his "beer fund" (tip jar) and paid the difference for me. I told him that I'd come back later - I felt bad about leaving him without beer money. On the way to the car I discovered the two dollars in my pocket and returned to pay off my debt. I got a kick out of the fact that the found money that I had planned to pass on to someone else was the exact amount as the "beer money" that the owner had passed on to me. I found a couple of dollars on the street myself a while ago and saved them, thinking I could pass on the good luck in some way. I put the bills in the little change pocket in my jeans and forgot about them. A few weeks later I was buying some bike parts for my son at this used bike shop. It turns out that they take cash only and I was two dollars short. The owner grabbed two bucks from his “beer fund” (tip jar) and paid the difference for me. I told him that I’d come back later – I felt bad about leaving him without beer money. On the way to the car I discovered the two dollars in my pocket and returned to pay off my debt. I got a kick out of the fact that the found money that I had planned to pass on to someone else was the exact amount as the “beer money” that the owner had passed on to me.

]]> By: Christie Nelson http://pauseforpurpose.com/2009/05/is-it-possible-to-have-too-much-empathy/comment-page-1/#comment-4656 Christie Nelson Wed, 27 May 2009 22:05:33 +0000 http://pauseforpurpose.com/2009/05/is-it-possible-to-have-too-much-empathy/#comment-4656 Hi Mark, Too much empathy, umm? The lady in black cloaked in sorrow? I suppose this is the opposite of compassion overload--the state where we push back from tales of woe. I see the smiling Buddha in my garden, pink and red blossoms waving over his bald head. Be happy, he says. Be happy. Today I found a five dollar bill on the sidewalk. I bought a turkey and swiss sandwich on rustic Italian bread for $4.99 and shared it with Ron. Yummy. Your friend, Christie Hi Mark,
Too much empathy, umm? The lady in black cloaked in sorrow? I suppose this is the opposite of compassion overload–the state where we push back from tales of woe.

I see the smiling Buddha in my garden, pink and red blossoms waving over his bald head. Be happy, he says. Be happy.

Today I found a five dollar bill on the sidewalk. I bought a turkey and swiss sandwich on rustic Italian bread for $4.99 and shared it with Ron. Yummy.

Your friend,
Christie

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