"I know the feeling..." No You Don't. | Teen Ink

"I know the feeling..." No You Don't.

June 19, 2014
By Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks


Ever told someone something really deep, and they just answered “I know how you feel.”?
Does it drive you crazy, because you know they have never felt the way you do right now.
Whether it was because your dad went MIA or your best friend died of cancer.
“I know the feeling.” just doesn’t cut it. It makes you angry, bitter, resentful. And you really want to respond
“No, you don’t. You have no idea what i’m feeling.”
Well then you’re going to hate this next line.
I know the feeling.
There I said it, the thing we hear almost everyday.
Let’s back up for a second though, and take it from their point of view.
Okay, so your best friend walks up to you after their first class of the day and hits you with some hard news.
“Can I tell you something?” They ask. You nod, thinking it’s just some dumb secret or piece of gossip. After all, that’s almost always what it is any other day.
“My dad got put into jail for something he didn’t do.” Woah, how do you respond to that?
“What did he get put in there for?” you wonder, curiosity getting the best of you.
“Drugs,” your friend tells you, wiping a tear from their eye. “But I swear he didn’t do it. He isn’t that kind of person.”
“I know how you feel, my uncle once got fined for dumping trash in a lot, but he didn’t actually dump anything. It was just a misunderstanding. I’m sure they’ll let your dad out after they realize he isn’t guilty.”
Your best friend just shakes their head and turns away, out of words to use. The bell rings, and you both get to class before your teacher hands out a tardy pass.
Now, what would you have done in that situation? Tried to console them, maybe even take your friend to the counsellor?
Those are good ideas, but what if they don’t want your sympathy, or hate talking to counsellors about personal topics?
I guess you couldn’t do much.
Maybe we should be a little more EMPATHETIC and a little less generic.
So back to the situation. Let’s go back to right before you told your friend about your uncle.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’ll help you get through this. My family will be there for you and your dad no matter what. We know him, and know he would never do something like that. Maybe we could write to the person accusing him,” you say.
There, maybe that makes you seem a much more serious about your friends problem, and hopefully, it could bring you together.
Next time you think about answering your friends question with “I know the feeling.” You’ll have some better responses. :)



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This article has 13 comments.


on Sep. 6 2014 at 9:26 am
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks

Thank you soooo much! I really appreciate all of your feedback, it really makes my day. :)

on Sep. 5 2014 at 12:22 am
PureDrawings BRONZE, Chandler, Arizona
3 articles 43 photos 230 comments
honestly, this is my favorite of what i have read of yours, ur truely amazing a capturing emotion

on Sep. 2 2014 at 4:19 pm
PureDrawings BRONZE, Chandler, Arizona
3 articles 43 photos 230 comments
So true, its make me wonder how many times i've said that.

on Jul. 15 2014 at 11:00 am
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks

Thank you I am glad so many of you are able to relate to this! XD

deleted00304 said...
on Jul. 15 2014 at 3:12 am
deleted00304, Somewhere, Colorado
0 articles 0 photos 15 comments
Love this! It sure is pretty annoying when people pretend to understand your situation. Good imagery and very relatable writing.

on Jul. 14 2014 at 9:32 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks

No, thank you for reading it! It helps me progress as an author. :)

on Jul. 14 2014 at 8:32 pm
EmilytheBelleofA. DIAMOND, Athens, Georgia
81 articles 5 photos 1486 comments

Favorite Quote:
To love is to be vulnerable; Triumph is born out of struggle; We notice shadows most when they stand alone in the midst of overwhelming light.

So true! Your writing made me think and it helped me a lot more than you know. Thank you so much, for sharing this and helping me. ^_^

on Jul. 12 2014 at 7:43 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks

I am very happy you liked this!

on Jul. 10 2014 at 9:36 pm
Sparrow01 SILVER, Appalachin, New York
8 articles 0 photos 30 comments
I really likt this, you're right! I know the feeling is waaaaaay over used.

on Jun. 30 2014 at 5:34 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks

Thanks a bunch! I'm glad you found it helpful :)  

on Jun. 30 2014 at 12:39 pm
WritinGirl PLATINUM, DeKalb, Illinois
20 articles 0 photos 78 comments

Favorite Quote:
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~Maya Angelou

that's really good--makes you take a step back and realize what you said and what you could have said better--thank you, amazing job :)

on Jun. 29 2014 at 4:15 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks

this isn't a poem lol But thanks so much!!! XD

on Jun. 29 2014 at 3:01 pm
Popcornjazz SILVER, Gahana, Ohio
5 articles 0 photos 35 comments

Favorite Quote:
Live life while you can

Wow you really state the message their! I love this poem