I've learned to value my empathy. I have a whole lot of it and it has been very difficult and draining when I have had to deal with people who seemed to have hearts made of ice. However, I've realized there is something beautiful about that empathy and it's not a quality I would want to lose. It has enabled me to help people in a way that not everybody could because not everybody truly cares. If possible, I try to gain an understanding of the reasons why certain people appear to be so harsh. Although I don't intend to make excuses for their bad behavior, I often find they have built up such a hard exterior in an effort to protect themselves from the bad behavior of others. This knowledge helps me to protect my feelings from them because I know there are wounds behind the walls. If they are willing to soften up a little and allow some humanity to seep through those walls at some point, then maybe there is a chance for a positive connection. If not, then that is the choice they have made and I will make the choice to distance myself so they don't steal the love and light I hold within. I don't mean at all to sound like I'm superior to anyone because Lord knows I've got my flaws and often actually feel inferior to others, but I've learned to at least care enough about my preservation to protect myself from the toxic energy of certain people. We have different ways of dealing with our pain. I'd rather try to heal what's hurting me than hurt people who are not responsible for my pain.