I don’t feel bad that I’m going to recount something that happened three days ago, for which I have no accompanying photos.
When I took the train to New York on Saturday morning, I felt bad that I couldn’t lift my bag into the overhead compartment. I immediately told myself “Don’t feel bad” and I asked the gentleman sitting next to me if he could help. He was happy to help and I didn’t feel bad about that, although I felt the need to explain that I couldn’t lift my own bag because I had torn my rotator cuff. I feel bad that I still feel the need to offer excuses for myself.
At the next stop, a woman boarded and sat in the seat across the aisle from me. I noticed she didn’t put her bag up in the overhead compartment. She looked like she felt bad about holding on to that bag, but I feel bad whenever I assume or mind read what’s going on with somebody else, so I waited to see what would happen. When the conductor came by, she asked him to put her bag away for her.
I didn’t feel bad initiating this conversation with her:
Me: I can relate. I needed help with that too.
She: I feel bad that I had to ask him.
Me: No! That’s nothing to feel bad about.
She: It’s embarrassing.
Me: Please try to let go of that. I know what I’m talking about. I’m a psychotherapist.
She: I’ll try.
Me: Look, while you’re feeling bad about that, people are doing terrible things that they’re not feeling bad about.
She: That’s true.
Me: Please don’t feel bad.
And because I didn’t want her to feel bad that a stranger was talking to her, I smiled and went back to reading my book.
I don’t feel bad
- about that encounter,
- that I can’t find my iPhone right now,
- that I can’t share any new photos with you because of #2, above, and
- about sharing old photos in this post.
Don’t feel bad if you ever have the erroneous thought that nobody loves you. You’re not alone in that thought and thinking it does not make it true.
I don’t feel bad that I feel fine about being on vacation all this week.
Don’t feel bad if you can’t think of anything to say about today’s post. I don’t feel bad asking you to leave a comment anyway.
I don’t feel bad that I can’t share all the gratitude photos I took yesterday, because tomorrow is another day.
