The root word "pathos" simply means emotion. Words based on that root all deal with emotions: sympathy, empathy, antipathy, apathy, telepathy, etc. You are applying a connotation to the word "pathetic" that is only one usage of the root and really isn't the definition of the root.. Just keep in mind that "path" refers to emotion and feelings. Are those so bad?

(I teach rhetoric and we spend LOTS of time working with recognizing pathos in writing, etc. We have to have this discussion the first time we encounter "pathos", and students get very comfortable with hearing me say things like "Is that a pathetic argument?"; they understand I don't mean pitiful or worthless--I simply mean "Is that argument appealing to emotions and feelings?")

Retrain your thinking about that definition and that should help.