Commiseration. Compassion. Empathy. Consolation. There are
so many words to describe but rarely an easy way to convey. You feel for
someone. Not all sufferings can be transferred or shared. Some are to be only
watched as the ones you care for suffer. Still do we Indians by definition of
our social norms restrict ourselves from expressing our understanding of pain
and anguish. In many societies hugging is a norm. In Indian cultures even
thanking sometimes feels false. It all has to be gruff and any emotions to be
snuffed. The word needy has a bad connotation.
Expressiveness may increase mental health, be cathartic and
in general improve relations as well. I am no researcher and cannot cite any
research articles for these. But I am sure I can be backed up on this.
Or does the joint family system of yore, which provided succor
to the aged, ill and the weak a better option than independent, nuclear units
which are in vogue?
Sometimes we need a resting place to recover. It's mostly mental than physical. Sometimes we wish to provide one for our near and dear. But it is struck in the mind and can't get out.
* - The title is from a Linkin Park song.
1 comment:
A very thought provoking post indeed. You are spot on about the Indian society eschewing any expression of emotions. A multi-generational family does seem to be a better option, but in the days of yore they were stacked against the women. I grew up in a joint family and while I loved it, I still feel sorry for my mother for everything she had to go through.
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