An Interesting Observation In Empathy

I went looking for a YouTube video of a lady walking on her street in Pacific Palisades talking about the devastation that cost her her home, but I can’t seem to find it. So I’ll do my best to describe.

She is standing in front of the charred remains of her own home. She had lived there for decades, her kids grew up in the house, she knew all her neighbors. All of their triumph and tragedy. She was there for them for their tragic moments as best she could. Her kids went to the nearby high school with all of their kids. Some of those kids went on to have success in their own right, and others are no longer with us.

As she was talking, the camera panned to the direction of the other neighbor homes, just as charred, and now in complete ruin.

Her heartbreak cracks her voice as she goes on. A sepia sky on an otherwise gorgeous day provides a somber setting.

It is clear that one can go on Zillow and see what the home values are and it won’t take long to realize that monetarily - most of these people will be okay. But the sheer heartbreak transcends socioeconomic standing. This lady and her despair have my full attention, and not in a "you’ll be okay because you’re rich” type of way. I sincerely feel horrible for her, and my net worth is probably a mere fraction of hers.

These are people who are not immune to life’s major curveballs. Like how she described that a neighbor lost his wife a few months ago, and now he lost his house. Just because they have money - that doesn’t mean that they are not above dealing with real human problems.

Some of those homes no doubt have pictures, keepsakes, and memories that were claimed by the flames. No amount of privilege can reverse the damage, nor keep the flames at bay.

Some of the interviewed instantly deployed gratitude, because the warnings came with ample notice and those who heeded got out of there with their irreplaceables. Like other family members or pets.

Yes, they can and will rebuild. Much like anywhere that gets hit by tornados or hurricanes. But just because you have a ton of money - you can still be dealt a life changing hand in an instant. So for those of us that have don’t have a net worth that rivals the victims’ net worth, there is a lesson to be learned: don’t count too much on your status, your money, your fame, or your luck.

Gratitude lies in living in the present and not focusing on those aforementioned things, because when shit comes for you, the flames won’t care how cool you are, how much money you have in the bank, how many instagram followers you have, or how privileged you were on things you had no control over when you were younger. Some very famous names lost their homes. So don’t take yourself or your material possessions too seriously. Be grateful as fuck for what you have while you have it and if you ever lose it, be grateful as fuck for the fact that you did have it. Because if you’re able to look back at when you had it, you can get it again. But also if your people closest to you made it out alive and well, and yet they also lost everything, that is the most important thing of all. That is the most fucking important thing of all.

Also, one last thing. As I referred to in a previous post, if you have the means to donate, look up gofundme pages of those affected. Of course, use your judgement to make sure you’re not donating to a Kardashian (they can handle this, they have no business asking for money) and donate at will. Not all that lost everything are of the upper socioeconomic rungs.