[LJDK]

I am not sure what is busy happening.

For some reason I feel very sad. I cry so easily. I have this extreme sense empathy for animals and or people lately.
Mostly animals. For instance the video of the saved dogs who spent 5 years in a cage... damn it just broke my soul. Seeing an article of an abused cat... same thing. Seeing beggars on the street, same thing.

Not sure what the hell is happening. I read a poem the other day, an angel looked down on earth, confused that we can consciously look up at the sky and look at our fleeting time we have on this planet. It triggered a feeling in me.

A feeling of being at one with the earth. That my life is wasting away in an office. I am wasting my wife's time, my time... everyone's time as I have zero contribution to better this world. Instead I bend over and conform.

Meanwhile millions of animals, humans are suffering while society fights about who owns the biggest TV. The best computer... the coolest car, the biggest **** etc. And then I start feeling sad again. My eyes keep tearing up. This has been ongoing for a week now, hence my coming here... not really to ask advise. More just to share.

Something is happening to me, its saddening my very soul. And I am not sure what to do. I know what I should do, is sell all my things, quit my job and go volunteer to assist a project worth supporting, instead of making just another person rich. But what about my wife? My family? Would it be selfish to leave them? Even though my goal is to help the world become a better place?

The suffering going on all around me is just becoming too much to bear.

[joypulv]

Congratulations on being aware. You wrote about it very well. You may be depressed at the moment, but it's only depression if you let it continue, and awareness if you do something about it.

No, don't abandon your family. They need you as much as the dog in the cage, and you took on the responsibility. Do you want your children to be bitter and hurt, and grow up to abuse animals? Concern about the suffering of the world starts at home. Besides, many charities now screen volunteers because volunteers cost them time and money, and they need people who are knowledgeable about the work and not just assuaging some guilt or need to feel better.

Start a long term plan for a career change, perhaps taking what you have learned to start a business in 2 or 3 years. Start an immediate plan to save money for that, and for a way to do charitable work 3 hours a week, hopefully getting your family interested too, and a bit of money to give, even if it's just gas in your car as you help.

I too am often overwhelmed by the suffering of the world. I don't think that is bad. Chronically happy people are OK, but they puzzle me. Maybe it's all just our chemistry. Being a good person who hurts no one (including not making babies wherever we go) and who doesn't consume the planet's resources is a start, and giving (time, money, knowledge) is next.

[Fr_Chuck]

As well such things should cause us to be aware of things. And agree it is not bad unless it continues to a point, or gets to a point it is effecting every day life and activities.

More people need to be aware.