They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and that you can truly see a person by looking into their eyes. This, however, goes to a whole new level when a person is empathetic. Not only do you see the person, but you can see if they are filled with joy, pain, anger, depression, etc. Then this goes even a step further, in which you can almost feel what the person is going through, just by a simple look.

I consider empathy to be a special kind of blessing. I love how I can see the joy in other people, and then through their happiness, I too am consumed with a sense of happiness. It genuinely brings joy to my heart when I see other people happy.

However, at the same time, when I see someone who is filled with sadness and/or pain, I can still can almost feel what they are going through. When I see the look of pain in their eyes, I get an ache in my heart. I desperately want to take the pain away from them, because I know how much they are hurting. However, I know deep down that there is nothing I can do except be an ear to listen, or a shoulder to cry on. And if it is someone I don't know, then all I can really do is pray that they are able to overcome their struggles, and hopefully in time they will stop hurting.

While this may seem like such an extreme spectrum of emotions, empathy also comes in small packages. Nothing makes me happier than seeing some else smile. A smile, though simple, can have such grand positive consequences. Even if I am personally having a rough day, seeing someone else smile or laugh can almost instantaneously turn my day upside down.

It is through taking on other's people's emotions, and making them my own, that I am able to gain a better understanding of what people are going through without anybody knowing. Sure, taking on emotions that are filled with sadness and pain can be a little overwhelming at times, and it may consume me more than I had hoped, but it is the days when I see someone beaming with a bright smile, and radiating joy, that makes it all worth it.