I'm extremely empathetic, unfortunately probably to the point where I'm taken advantage of because of it. When something really hits me (and it could be anything, from anywhere), it often stays with me for days. In some cases, I feel what that person is feeling as strongly as if they were my own feelings.

In confrontation, for example, and I always care more about finding out what motivates someone that being angry with them for attacking me. In comparison to the people around me, I do seem to be more understanding, sympathetic, and welcoming to the feelings of others. I'm driven to help others as much as I possibly can. If that means taking on more work and running myself down, I still find myself doing it, just to ease their burden.

Unfortunately, I usually find it impossible to express. As much as I want to reach out in those moments, I can never seem to find the proper words to.

Career-wise? I work in a coffee shop, and have worked in customer service my entire working life. Fast food. Restaurants. Places where the majority of employees seem to always have horrible experiences with customers. I've noticed that I seem to have a lot less of those confrontations, and see a lot less negativity in people. I'm pretty decent at resolving complaints, because I can easily empathize.

The other thing: Maybe it's me, and my sadness, but I find the world tainted with it, and I see it everywhere, in the faces of everyone. Sometimes, I get struck with the sense that someone is really sad, embarrassed, guilty, or just broken from the slightest movement or tone- I never know if it's real, or if I'm just projecting, and it's a complete head****. The best I can figure is that I should get myself in to a position where I can help as much as I can. It's not like I'm just going to stop being empathetic suddenly.

...did any of that make sense?