So true, Kasey. You take the path less traveled here, I think, as one recognizing their rock as a pebble. Most of us look at the pains of others as pebbles and our own as boulders! Or at least that's the direction of comparison I'm more familiar with.

But whatever the direction of the comparison, I agree with you, the comparison itself does us no good if it leads us to disregard feelings, our own or another's.

And yet, why is it so hard (for me at least) simply to be present with someone else, let them feel all their feels, and validate them? Full confession: that's one of my primary aspirational growth areas.

Lovely and thoughtful piece, as usual.