Today’s interesting challenge poses the question: what’s the one thing you do to feel human again?
The preface establishes scenarios — a long flight, a grueling week. The suggestion that something has worn us out physically. The answer is rather dull: I take a nice hot shower. It feels good to be clean — to feel the grime washed away. There’s something to be said for the sensual pleasure of hot water flowing over me.
Nevertheless, I’d rather focus on the depth of the question: what makes me feel human? And perhaps of more interest, what could possibly have the effect of zapping my humanity?
I feel least human when I refuse to acknowledge the humanity of others. I can spend my day never making eye contact, never listening with my heart, never getting emotionally invested in the events happening right next to me.
I have become an expert in disassociating myself from the feelings of those around me. The sad part of that is that I lose a piece of my humanity along the way.
I have to allow myself to feel to get it back. I need to love. I need to love, not just those who love me back, but those who are difficult to love, too. The demanding family member. The obnoxious neighbor. The uncooperative colleague.
I need to learn to love like God loves.
And I need to allow myself to cry, whether it’s in grief or gratitude, joy or anger, appreciation or frustration. It’s an amazing catharsis to cry – to express through tears a multitude of emotions.
What could be more human than that?
Mrs.Johnson, you had me at “hello”. Having expressed how I feel so accurately all I can add is …Thank you – wiping my eyes and feeling human.
Yours in Christ,
Ali Tunon – Emoji free.
Thank you for this question to ponder. Awakened for me was the very idea that I experience detachment. I love your suggested antidotes.
I struggle with that daily — too easy to disconnect. Or rather, too hard to feel all the feels all the time. I guess it goes with the job — though it shouldn’t.