I will not give into
compassion fatigue.
I will not let my abundance
of empathy
run dry.
If I need to,
I will take time.
I will step away
to recharge.
I will not let others
lack of empathy
turn me to stone.
When my compassion
is tried
and tested,
may I come out softer,
gentler,
kinder,
and even more
compassionate.
May the worst emotional
burn victim
find relief and safety
in my company.
May they let me in
when the blackened
blisters of sorrow,
rage, fear,
and hurt,
burst,
peeling off their heart.
As they scream in agony
to make it stop.
Let me be there.
…I have been there.
I can show you
my scars
and assure you
that your festering wounds
too
can heal.
My light may waver
or dim
at times.
I am human.
When upset, I too
can become distant
and cold.
But rest assured
my warmth will return
for you too are human
and for that,
and that alone
I will love you.
I will comfort you.
Even if you are cruel
and twist my empathy
to suit your own needs,
I will let you go
but I will not let you
harden me.
For love is where
I came from.
Love is what
I’m here for.
And love is what
I am.
When I became
a mental health advocate,
I opened up my wounds
for the world to see.
Was there cruelty
towards me?
Yes.
There will always be those
who stuff down their pain
then hate and blame
anyone who reminds them
of the feelings
they’ve tried
to suffocate.
There are those
who feel
no empathy.
But I’ve found
much more love
and gratitude
than hate
and cruelty.
In a world of fake,
of filters and
photoshop,
where substances
run rampant,
because we’re all trying
to numb ourselves;
many crave
vulnerability.
Realness.
Authenticity.
If you are alive —
Be you human,
animal, insect
or plant —
then life has hardships
and pain.
LGBTQ2+,
every gender,
every nationality,
every faith,
and every person
who discriminates,
has hardships
and pain.
If you need nutrients
and water
to survive
then you are alive
and for that
my heart
goes out to you.
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