To Empathize or Not To Empathize

Empathy: the capacity to comprehend and be emotionally connected with the experience of another.

When someone is in distress, physically or emotionally, there are some who not only feel, but are driven to act. There is a point when the distance between myself and someone in need is so great there seems little I can do. Still, I try to aim that force of common feeling constructively and make.

During the times I am more open to the world of others my life is enriched, immeasurably.

The Disadvantage of Association

I visit Cambridge university, a rival of Oxford university with whom I am more familiar. Both bask in the reputation and privilege of 800 years as centres of learning and excellence.

I never attended university or an academy as a student and so I view them as an outsider. I remain hungry to learn, but I cannot fall back on the independent validation of my knowledge and ability. For this I am fortunate, for the words I say stand unhampered by the advantage of association.

Blue

The strongest blue of sky, eye and sea are made from the very air we breathe.

When sunlight passes through our atmosphere, more blue is scattered by oxygen and nitrogen. My eyes are blue for a similar reason, despite having no blue pigment.

I love deep ocean blue, sky blue, its reach and wash, its free and feral soul.