Empathetic Souls

 

If there was ever a time to put my empathetic and non judgemental skills on display, this is definitely my moment to shine! You may have noticed that as of late, you having only been hearing from Alexis (that's this keyboard warrior mom typing!) in our blog posts and videos at Unfiltered Awakening. Am I the overachiever of this duo? Perhaps I might like to think so, but do not let my blog partner Sheree hear you! And truth be told, although I AM an overachiever, Sheree most certainly is too. I would argue that most women are! And we modern women have been taught to reach for the stars and go for every dream we have ever thought possible. Reaching for the stars is great and all, don't get me wrong, but we can often fall flat and feel defeated when are expected to make every possible goal a reality (particularly all at the same time). Women definitely feel that pressure to be the best mom, partner, care taker, entrepreneur or career oriented female on the planet, all while at the same time feeling and looking fabulous 24/7. Ladies, we all know that is not possible or sustainable for most of us. And you know what, that's ok!

My blog partner is an exceptional human being who has been tasked with so much on her plate. More than one person should be expected to. And you know what? Homegirl HANDLES HER BUSINESS! Sheree truly rocks! But sometimes, the wind is knocked out of our sails and it just becomes too much. And it is not because we cannot handle it. It is because human beings in our modern world are expected to handle too many demands. It is not reasonable for any of us! Sometimes it is just too much and you need to regroup. You need to take a break. It could be financial troubles, relationship changes, family crisis, career demands, the loss of a loved one; the list is endless. This need to regroup is particularly true in Covid Life. I hate typing those words, but we all know this is true. We are in a crisis. So it is no wonder that some of us got some stuff we have to deal with! And when we have a relationship that is dear to us (work, personal, or otherwise), as a true partner, this is when empathy comes in.  My partner is currently dealing with some struggles that have set her back a bit, but they have certainly not knocked her down! She is fighter and a survivor, but even the strongest of us need an empathetic shoulder to lean in on. That's where I step in. I may not have ever experienced what she is going through at the moment, but it's really not my place to judge or "fix" her problems. What I can do is to be there for her, listen to her, and try to put myself in her shoes. Sure, I could say to her, "Well, why don't you try this", or worse, I could think, "I can't believe she got herself into that situation. I would know better.". Maybe I would not have handled things the same way as another person or maybe Sheree's dilemmas are not the same as mine. But that doesn't mean that I don't have my fair share of drama. And I would like to think when it's my turn to be in a storm, which WILL happen, she will be there for me.

One thing I have noticed about our society lately, is that we do tend to judge others based on our vantage point or our values. ESPECIALLY when it comes to our current climate. Deciding on what's best for our children as far as at home or school based learning during Covid is just one prime example. Don't even get me started on Republican versus Democrat! One may argue that I am veering off topic as it relates to this post, but stay with me. The point I am trying to make here, is that we are all doing the best we can! I am just as guilty as the next person for making snap judgements about why people are making the life choices that they believe are best for them and their family simply because it doesn't fit my narrative. But it only takes one comment or perceived judgment from somebody else about my own choices to feel that sting of not being listened to. Our relationships require empathy, understanding, and LISTENING rather than attempting to fix. And sometimes it requires us to get in the trenches with our loved ones. Our friends and loved need us to know that we have their back, and sometimes that requires taking the driver's wheel until they can reset. Sheree, I am taking the wheel for the moment! And I am looking forward to my co pilot being back on her feet in no time! 

Stay tuned for Unfiltered Awakening video content about my thoughts on friendship and being a good partner! There will also be content from the fabulous Sheree in the near future!

-Alexis