Hi Abhinav, I came across your post while exploring Substack - I’m new here - and I just wanted to say how much your writing resonated with me.
I’ve had similar thoughts about how suffering is perceived and judged. One thing I’ve come to realize is that when I notice someone else’s pain, I’m not just witnessing their suffering - I’m also encountering something in myself. Other people often feel like mirrors, reflecting back parts of me I’ve ignored, rejected, or forgotten.
For example, I live in an area with a lot of unhoused people, and sometimes when I meet their eyes, I feel like I’m face-to-face with a part of myself I’ve cast aside - the part that believes it’s unworthy of love or belonging. It’s a strange and humbling experience, and it reminds me that suffering is deeply relational, not just individual.
I’m not sure if this lines up with what you were getting at, but your words opened a door for me to reflect on all this. Thanks for sharing your voice - I’m grateful to have read it. Wishing you well in your writing journey.
Ugh i love this so much! Pain doesn’t require performance.
I loved this peice, you put lots of thoughts into words really hit home with me thank you j somehow feel better for reading this again many thanx.
Last lines hit especially hard … amazing writing !!
Hi Abhinav, I came across your post while exploring Substack - I’m new here - and I just wanted to say how much your writing resonated with me.
I’ve had similar thoughts about how suffering is perceived and judged. One thing I’ve come to realize is that when I notice someone else’s pain, I’m not just witnessing their suffering - I’m also encountering something in myself. Other people often feel like mirrors, reflecting back parts of me I’ve ignored, rejected, or forgotten.
For example, I live in an area with a lot of unhoused people, and sometimes when I meet their eyes, I feel like I’m face-to-face with a part of myself I’ve cast aside - the part that believes it’s unworthy of love or belonging. It’s a strange and humbling experience, and it reminds me that suffering is deeply relational, not just individual.
I’m not sure if this lines up with what you were getting at, but your words opened a door for me to reflect on all this. Thanks for sharing your voice - I’m grateful to have read it. Wishing you well in your writing journey.
🥰🥰
This hits deep.
I feel this way all the time; people do not necessarily validate others's suffering. It's honestly so agitating.
I think about this everyday, but I simultaneously identify myself as weak and fragile then I stop thinking about it.
.
this is so beautiful!! pain is such a real thing, and it’s shown in so many ways 💕💕
❤️❤️❤️
I wrote something similar to what you are trying to convey, pain is a defined perspective for the society when in real it is anything but that.
send link!
https://open.substack.com/pub/huhhwhat/p/the-ache-is-now-all-metaphors?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4499ua