I have faced a great deal of hardhsip in my life; emotionally, physically, and financially. I tend to recognise then when others - no matter how hard they try to hide it - are facing the same. I suppose you could say I am empathetic. Even seeing people make difficult hard and poor choices in their lives I find myself looking at what situation might have put them there.

For instance, I left an envelope of gift cards for my co-workers to take over the Holidays. Someone absconded with it (about a $100 worth). Others chastised the nameless person for being a thief. But the first thing that entered my mind was that maybe they needed them for food. That is just the kind of person I am - and it comes entirely from having gone through my own hardships.

There is one thing though that does get my goat and will garner absolutely not sympathy from me and that is the individual who has put themselves in such position out of choice and purposefulness. In another thread somewhere a person admitted to financially coming to the aid of a someone who despite their financial hardship spends what money they do have on cigarettes. That absolutely made me furious. No crying over that from me. That person is on their own with absolutely no empathy or help from me. I won't compromise myself over such selfishness.