Let the tears flow. Please. BUT don't forget to reciprocate.

Just like the saying goes, "misery loves company"...

Okay fine, I'll hear you out.
Imagine someone crying their miseries to you. They think their problems are the worst that they are going through. You listen, you share the pain and maybe you cry together. And then maybe you share some personal stories in hope of making the other person feel less miserable. Just to show that you understand what the person is going through. Empathy aye. End of day, problems may not be solved. But at least you know you've been there when this person needed it most.

Now comes the time you need a chat, someone to hear your side of story. And then you were brushed off because they feel your issues are less important. They don't bother giving you five or ten minutes of their day. And somehow still they manage to bring up their own stories again and magnify it into various proportions on the importance of theirs. Then you feel your problems are not so bad after all...

Process repeats. Then one day, you realize they haven't a clue about what you're going through in spite of countless sessions because they somehow managed to turn things around and make it about themselves, AGAIN!

Finally you say to yourself, "I've had enough of this one-sided support / therapy with whom I thought cared enough to listen and offer me advise. Not always advise, but at least to lend an ear". Then you realize that in actuality it was and still always is about them!

Dear Friends, don't waste any more of your precious time for "users" who are skilled and only interested about themselves to begin with. The "users" are so quick at moving on that you might miss it if you don't look close enough. Sometimes you won't even catch it until it's over.

The next time you decide to pour your heart out and expect attentiveness in time and empathy, make sure you can offer that in return when the situation calls for it. Superficiality can easily be spotted even though the other side may not tell you so. Else don't do it if you know you are unable to offer support. Just DETACH.

Sometimes, it's better to move on and start anew.

Cheers.

Images via wisdompills.com, pinterest.com