It’s always been hard for me to separate myself from my emotions. And when I really think about that concept, how can I actually remove myself from what I’m feeling? What I’m feeling is woven intricately to who I am. To the essence of me.

This quirk, for lack of a better word, of mine became increasingly noticeable nine years ago, after becoming a mother. I realized I couldn’t watch the news, and if abuse was involved – forget it. When I see something upsetting on social media, ranging in from the slightly wrong to downright torturous, I immediately choose the button that says not interested. Then the algorithm asks Why aren’t you interested in this post?

Whether the answer is made me uncomfortable or maybe the answer is this post is misleading, wouldn’t it be great if life had a not interested button? That annoying person who can never read the room. Not interested. The parents who don’t want their children to experience any kind of growing pain or discomfort. Not interested. Family drama. Not interested. People who gaslight. Not interested. People who pretend their lives are perfect for the sake of appearances. Not interested. People who criticize and judge others. Not interested. People who railroad others because they actually believe no one else has meaningful insight into life except for them. Not interested. Good old-fashioned haters. Not interested.

Of course, life doesn’t come with a not interested button. I mean, I guess you could choose to walk away from every person in your life who annoys you or gets under your skin. But what would walking away, each time, teach us? And the thing is, life comes with a prism of colors, too. There is no black or white situation. There’s a lot of grey. And in that grey, many times, we find our humanity. However, also in that grey, we find the moments where we wish we could hit not interested, but we have to continue on. Scrolling in real life, if you would.

I’ll always have to work extra hard at not allowing other people’s problems become my own. My husband, a first-responder, is a master at compartmentalization. He has to be. It’s a survival requirement to be in his line of work. How can he respond to the worst day of someone’s life and go back to the fire station to continue prepping dinner? He has to. There’s no other way. Me, on the other hand? When I experience trauma of my own, or listening to someone else’s, or even watching it online as I mentioned earlier, that ugliness stays with me. It eats away at me. I’ve had therapists and close friends identify me as an empath. To me, it’s a compliment. Take a look:

Common Signs of an Empath

• Deep Sensitivity: Easily picking up on the moods, stress, or tension in a room or crowd
• Exhaustion in Crowds: Feeling drained, anxious, or irritable in busy places like malls or large gatherings
• Strong Intuition: Knowing when someone is lying or hiding their true feelings, even if they act cheerful
• Need for Solitude: Requiring regular alone time in quiet spaces or nature to reset and recover
• Physical Toll: Experiencing physical symptoms or fatigue when exposed to heavy negativity or distress

<div style='text-align: right'>*[Source: 12 Signs You Are an Empath (A Highly Sensitive Person)](https://medium.com/@alexandraaa/12-signs-you-are-an-empath-a-highly-sensitive-person-f4bc23cd41ab)*</div>

Why would I consider this a compliment? Actually, I see it as much more. In reality, it’s a superpower. To illustrate this concept, let’s look at famous superheroes and compare. Batman does not have official superpowers, but one could argue his ultimate “superpower” is his absolute control over his own mind and body. Spider-Man controls his superpower through a mix of learned muscle memory and precise mental restraint. Perhaps the most sublime example is Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman controls her immense superpowers primarily by wearing her indestructible Bracelets of Submission. The word submission is usually glossed over with a negative paintbrush; in actuality, her Bracelets of Submission act as divine limiters, keeping her true godly fury in check. Like Batman, Spider-Man, and especially Wonder Woman, I must learn to control my own superpower so that it doesn’t control me.