by Annalyn Andriyenko

Created on: November 27, 2009   Last Updated: November 28, 2009

Pity. Forgiveness. Understanding. Compassion. Mercy. Clemency. All these words are related to a root word, and that word is sympathy. It is an act of willing to feel sorry for a person's suffering in any event imaginable. Some people look at sympathy as an act that isn't best suited for a situation and see it as something a person would do all of a sudden as to show they care, even if they haven't spoken to said person in a very long time. Most times, sympathy is respectable and giving at the right moments, such as a light pat on the shoulder, which can make another person feel somewhat better at that moment.

Sometimes people will not accept amounts of sympathy and will use a different form of the word, pity, which can be the same thing just used in a "dumped down" word sense, almost as if the word itself is wrong and not something to be used in such a case. People may be in a serious case of hurt, such as the loss of a friend or family member, someone close to them. Or maybe a traumatic event took place around them and they feel not up to par as they usually are. People may accept your form of saying sorry to them and some people will look at it think to themselves like, "I do not need your pity." That truly is the downfall of showing sympathy to a person.

There is no right and wrong way to show people you care about them; it depends on them as an individual and whether they wish to accept your feelings. Downsides of sympathy can be implemented and countered, though, if you are willing to sit through with this person and give them advice and be by their side, if they are willing. This can soften even the toughest of people; even if they do not show it, they will react to your kindness in some way and it may be physical or emotional but everyone has a way of showing thank you.

Sometimes though, showing your sympathy isn't the best bet and can damage others when they see it as a hassle and not something worth their time. So, even though you wish to show someone how you feel, it isn't always best to act on this and waiting for them to recover on their own can be the most useful tool of the human consciousness.

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