HAS MY SERVICE CHANGED MY PERCEPTION OF EMPATHY?

I take part in a service that helps out in a cerebral palsy centre. I think my feeling toward this service have evolved throughout the duration of my participation. Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another’s position. I feel when I started this service, I didn’t come to terms with the limitations in a cerebral palsy child’s life. I truly didn’t see them for who they were and just thought they were unlucky, but as I spend more time with these children, I truly care and I prioritise making them feeling equal to myself and any other human. My perception of feeling for another person and putting myself in another’s shoes has completely taken a 180 degrees change. I went from feeling sorry to coming to terms that I can never completely know what the child is going through but I can always treat them as I would treat myself and help however I can. The main reason why I feel this service is important is that I feel a child with cerebral palsy is helpless and that is what I truly believe is a disadvantage in this world, and I choose to do anything I can to make them feel atleast slightly helpless while I’m there.