Feeling 2011

It's fun to forget yourself. Sometimes I sit in a crowd and try to breathe in the atmosphere around me. I try to feel all of what everyone else is feeling. I try to feel their movement. I try to feel their happiness. I try to feel their pain. It's almost a transcendent feeling.

What makes this "almost" is that I'm not actually doing anything with this feeling. I'm not doing anything to make these people happier nor am I doing anything to make these people better deal with their pain. I'm empathizing, but feeling for someone doesn't have any tangible effect on them.

I want to figure out a way to forget myself, but at the same time, still be able to do something to help the people I'm forgetting myself for. I can't just feel for you. You'll never know how I feel unless I show it.

Hiroku Kobuko - 1000 Words