Overly empathetic and generous? wanderlust and other issues

Ever since i was a kid I would take jewelry from home and give it to other kids..once I took 100 bucks from home and brought some 6 kids with me, we walked to a Toy store and we got toys for all of them...I was about 4-5 years old..and until today I keep giving my jewelry and things away to kids who aren't wealthy.. and I'm not wealthy myself..I do it to make them feel a little better and so they will know there are also good people in the world...is it one of the symptoms?

Also when i was very young 4-6 I would walk long distances, alone in the forest, I mean really far..and people were always looking for me..I was a trouble maker..always wanted to find some wonderland..lol and I would pick up stray animals on the street and bring them home..Have you guys had any of those?

You basically just described me. Although I am empathetic, I help out people a lot because I want them to like me, not because I really feel sorry for them.

I think you are looking for the word generosity not empathetic( totally diff like night and day) . Yes, I am a sharing and caring person. I am not selfish I love my generosity many people hate that in me especially the selfish and bitter people

Myprincecharming wrote: I am not selfish I love my generosity many people hate that in me especially the selfish and bitter people

Interesting. I would think those who are selfish and bitter would enjoy your generosity. If for no other than reason than to exploit it.

reflection wrote:

Myprincecharming wrote: I am not selfish I love my generosity many people hate that in me especially the selfish and bitter people

Interesting. I would think those who are selfish and bitter would enjoy your generosity. If for no other than reason than to exploit it.

Not the people I know they think I am weak and incompetent especially the narcissistic ones

I do exactly the same but mainly when I'm drunk. A few weeks ago I was about 50 miles from home staying with a friend and I got drunk and wandered off, walked for hours and hours. I gave all of my money to the homeless people I found and then woke up in the morning lying in a back street with nothing left and no way of getting home apart from walking. This isn't the first time I've done it though. I often wake up at the weekend at home and loads of food has gone missing from the cupboards. I love walking for miles and miles, even when not drunk.
It's so weird and almost comforting hearing all of these similar stories and how many of us there are.

Yup, me too on the generosity. I think maybe it is related to empathy, or at least to wanting to accomodate the needs of others when possible -- alleviate their suffering. All I know is the zero-empathy Narc's I know are completely the opposite of generous!

And yes, oddly enough, I'm all about the walking, too. Whenever I visit a new city, especially, I love to walk its streets and parks, observing and absorbing.

Could there be a link between the giving and the walking? I'm not sure, but a shortstory comes to mind... involves both empathy and walking... "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" (you can read it here http://harelbarzilai.org/words/omelas.txt )

I give a lot as well from smokes to money etc. I want to be accepted more than anything. It's not that I pay people to be accepted but I want people to see that I am a kind person underneath everything. I feel misunderstood a lot and I perceive that people think I am a bitch.

Shazam wrote:Yup, me too on the generosity. I think maybe it is related to empathy, or at least to wanting to accomodate the needs of others when possible -- alleviate their suffering. All I know is the zero-empathy Narc's I know are completely the opposite of generous!

And yes, oddly enough, I'm all about the walking, too. Whenever I visit a new city, especially, I love to walk its streets and parks, observing and absorbing.

Could there be a link between the giving and the walking? I'm not sure, but a shortstory comes to mind... involves both empathy and walking... "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" (you can read it here http://harelbarzilai.org/words/omelas.txt )

wow what a beautiful story! ty for sharing