Dear Gaia:

There is a difference between empathy (or sympathy) and pity. If I felt pity for you, it would mean that I look down at you, thinking you are less than me, thinking something like: poor Gaia, she is so unfortunate being who she is, less intelligent than me.  I am lucky I am not her..

No, no, no- empathy is not pity. Feeling empathy for you I think something like this: I used to suffer just like Gaia, she is just as intelligent as I am. Because I was where she is (and am still healing and learning), maybe I can teach her how I made progress so that she can have a better life. I know she is very intelligent, it is just that she has been stuck for so long, like I was.

Do you see the difference?

anita