It makes me tired.

I’ll just go ahead and say it, because I know y’all are thinking it, too. Sometimes, I don’t want to hear about other people’s problems.

Anybody’s. The world’s. The economy’s. Whoever. Whatever. It makes me tired.

There. It’s out…for all of us.

That doesn’t sound very nice, I know, but seriously. I just don’t have the bandwidth for it. I’m either struggling, too, and have my own stuff to deal with. Other times, like today, the universe has given me a reprieve (probably brief!), and I want to focus on my “good” without distraction.

I’m super compassionate. I am a flaming empath. I think that’s why it makes me tired. I tend to carry other people’s burdens, feel their sadness, and identify with their pain. It’s exhausting.

I also don’t want to be too tired to be grateful. I don’t want to miss the good stuff, because I’m carrying baggage that isn’t even mine. I know me, and I know I can get resentful, cynical, and annoyed. I don’t want to do any of that either.

Maybe I need social media breaks.

Maybe I need to unfollow the folks who like to whine and complain.

Maybe I need to listen to less news and commentary.

Maybe I need to figure out how to hear people’s troubles, then let it go right out of my ears and into space.

Maybe I also need to think about how I come across to other people. I sure don’t want to bring people down.

It’s funny, isn’t it?! I totally PROMOTE sharing, asking for help, and not keeping thoughts and feels inside. I ENCOURAGE people to shed their vulnerability and seek support. I WANT to be that support when I can. Don’t get me wrong.

But sometimes, it makes me tired.