Thinks I Think

So I’ve been learning things about myself and thinking thinks about those things.

Here is one. I have a tendency to take upon myself the feelings other people are feeling. This could be considered a good thing – compassion, empathy, like that. That can’t be bad. When someone is happy, I’m happy with them. When someone’s worried, I’m worried with them. It’s soul-expanding, right? Except remember that I work in a high school?

I’ll just give you a minute to let that settle.

Is there any place in the known universe with more angst and excitement and stress and anticipation and fear and discouragement and mirror-checking and doublespeak than an American high school?

And I manage, without even trying, to take it all on myself. I get pretty excited when someone gets asked to prom of homecoming. I celebrate their making the team and winning the game and breaking records. Fights are so personal (the whispery kind and the physical kind). I proctored the ACT this week. I left that afternoon with totally shaking arms – I hadn’t felt so much stress inside me in MONTHS.

Is this a thing? Does this happen to you? Is this a personality defect? (See how I’m worried about what’s wrong with me? I’m kind of like 17 again. But fatter.)