What pulls at your heart strings?

[5ft Diva]

I start to cry when I see a mother at the store struggling w/ her children or babies who are crying uncontrollably and she's trying everything she can to calm them down and nothing seems to work. I remember so clearly what this felt like when BS was back in Ohio for 6.5 months and how lonely and vulnerable I felt at that time. The other day I saw a mother at Wal-Mart and I was trying so hard to figure out how to help this perfect stranger when I had three of my own w/ me and I think she thought I was judging her because I kept looking at her. I tried to smile to let her know I empathized w/ her, but I think I just made her more self-conscious. Later that night I was still bothered by the incident and really tried to figure out what I could do differently next time. The story of The Good Samaratain came to mind and I realized that's how I can offer support next time. Man! Just thinking about that mother almost brings me to tears now. It's such a horrible position to be in.

[natickgirl]

Yeah, seeing mothers struggle with their children gets me, too, because I can completely empathize. I've decided sometimes just a simple "I've been there, I know how hard it is" can validate someone's efforts and let them know they're doing OK & you're not judging them.

I also really feel for people who are in situation such as giving a talk or having a conversation & they say or do something awkward, so they get really embarrassed. I'm not very good at explaining myself verbally, so I know what it's like to put your foot in your mouth when you really didn't mean anything offensive.

[Dia Minha]

When I watch someone struggle with expressing themselves in public it pulls at my heart strings. Seeing someone get injured, makes me feel weak in the knees, almost like it was me that it happened to. Seeing the aftermath of any surgery does the same. I can't even look at my sisters last surgery incession, because I start to feel faint just thinking about it. I have a hard time listening to others talk about their pain and sorrows. For a long time I thought it was because I was selfish. Then I discovered that I tend to take on their pain. I feel what they feel and it makes living happily very hard when you carry around everyone elses sorrows along with yours. I'm getting better at being able to listen and lift up without taking it on though. Mothers with crying or temper tantrum children also gives me an ache.

And I know this isn't exactly what you were talking about, but baby blessings and newborn babies being announced at the pulpit still pull at my heart strings. It has been over a year and I feel like I have overcome so much, but because my last little baby didn't get a chance for a baby blessing it still hurts. DH prayed over his body, but it just isn't the same. Most baby blessings mention something about strong bodies and that can just send me into sobs. It was also never announced that the Handley's had, had a new baby. I didn't know I wanted that at the time, but now every time another baby is announced I can't help feel those heart strings being pulled.

[runamyrun]

Diva knows this about me, but I have a HARD time hearing about anything sad that happened to children or parents of children. Especially if they are near the ages of my children. I end up sobbing. I had to tell my mom to stop telling me stories like that (she and my mother-in-law seem fascinated with things like that), but she still forgets. I end up quickly changing the subject. I also stopped watching the news, because after I would feel depressed. Now I read the news online so I can pick and choose what I feel I need to know.

And a lot of times, people with physical or mental disabilities tugs on my heart strings. I want to go hug them and the parents.

Oh, and I guess I feel bad when other people's feelings are hurt. I want to go and hug them and let them know they are loved. I think I am too sensitive!