Care

We use the word "care" as though it's going out of style, and we actually don't understand what that means. "I care about the environment," then hop in your gas-guzzler and throw your Starbucks cup out into the brush alongside the interstate on your two-hour commute to your natural fibers clothing business. Look, I'm not going to school anyone about how it's vital to love the environment, but even the word "environment" has different meanings. The thing is, the word "care" means more than we realize. I'm sure someone came up with this, and I'm too lazy to Google it, so by all means, please, school me. I was just sitting, smoking a cigarette, when I thought of the word "care," Compassion, Appreciation and/or Acknowledgment, Respect, and Empathy. "Oh, Jesus, are we going down this road NOW?" Yes, yes, we are. My next question is, what are you doing reading this if you're complaining about it? Use your judgment and exit, it's what grown people do. NOW, we can look at both Compassion and Empathy as they're both in the same category, ish...I don't know, these are some words that define love. MOVING ON...

Compassion and Empathy. Compassion and Empathy (Yes, I go to a dictionary so someone doesn't get snarky about the definition of words; for the rest, say whatever you want). SO, looking again at Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, which defined it well, "Compassion and empathy both refer to a caring response to someone else’s distress. While empathy refers to an active sharing in the emotional experience of the other person, compassion adds to that emotional experience a desire to alleviate the person’s distress." This is brilliant because A.) It proves my point, and I deserve ice cream. B.) Empathy directly gives genuine care to the person with the troubles, and Compassion tries and do something about it.

Appreciation AND/OR Acknowledgement: Same dictionary, so please, NOTE THAT I CITED IT! Appreciation would be "a feeling or expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude," and Acknowledgement would be "recognition or favorable notice of an act or achievement," and "a thing done or given in recognition of something received." This can be summed up by expanding the meaning (which sums nothing up, but makes it even more confusing.) The "summation" is the recognition of an act of some kind and to feel admiration, approval, and/or gratitude for this act, and the recognition of someone of whom you feel admiration and gratitude. In this, you feel a deep sense of care for this individual, animal, thing, et cetera.

Respect, dun dun DUN. The big "R," and a rather popular Aretha Franklin hit...and if it's not predominant in your mind right now, then you've never heard "R.E.S.P.E.C.T., find out what that means to me..." Respect means (same dictionary, dawg, don't be accusing me of plagiarizing, homie) "an act of giving particular attention (consideration)," "high or special regard (esteem)," and "to refrain from interfering with." Now, to respect another is pretty much to acknowledge who they are and respect what it is they desire.

Care: "suffering of mind," "a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension, and responsibility," "painstaking or watchful attention," "regard coming from desire or esteem," "a person or thing that is an object of attention, anxiety, or solicitude." Then you have the statement "to give care," or "a caregiver." To care is very taxing according to these definitions, but the fact is, we do care about so many things; it's insane. Clear down to what our toes look like, when Bertha, your favorite aunt, is struggling for her life, and you're worried about your fucking toes. To care well, you must have Compassion for someone's struggle and help in the struggle as much as you can. Appreciate someone or something's existence and effort and/or Acknowledge that this person, animal, thing, et cetera, needs your attention because they've always been there for you. Respect a person's wants, needs, and desires, and if you have charged yourself or have been charged to give care, respect who is before you and know they are just as fallible as you are, needs your help, and wants to be seen for who they are. Have empathy for their struggle and give them the dignity they deserve. I don't give a damn if this is Grandma, your dog Skip, or a rose bush, give real care. Remember, to care is to have your attention on a thing, sometimes so much so that you miss things that should matter. Care enough to have compassion, appreciation, and/or acknowledgement, respect, and empathy for what the person, animal, thing, et cetera may need, want, or desire. Stop being a selfish dick and pay attention to those who you claim to love and care about before they're gone.