When parents get sick after you have immigrated, it is never easy, no matter where you are:

What happens when you are far?

• Decisions you can’t take
• Depend on others
• Have to live with the decisions others made
• wonder what would have happened if you would have been closer
• Criticized for not being there

When you live near?

• You have to make decisions that are not easy
• You won’t make everyone happy
• You will be blamed for decisions that you took
• You will criticize those who are away

There is no win situation when we look at it like this.

We all suffer, but our experience is different. We will never understand what the other person went through, but our share humanity should be enough to bring us together and have compassion for each other, including ourselves.

This is the part of empathy that we miss. Brene Brown:

We need to dispel the myth that empathy is walking in someone else’s shoes. Rather than walking in your shoes, I need to learn how to listen to the story you tell about what it’s like in your shoes and believe you even when it doesn’t match my experience.

Having compassion will make the pain more bearable for ourselves and those involved.

If you have subscribed to the podcast, please join me and share it. Leave a comment.

If you are curious about Life Coaching, book a free consult and we can talk about how can I help you.