I've been married to my husband for 20 years. That's a whopping two decades of sharing life, love, and endless bickering over the remote control. People often talk about empathy in relationships: being attuned to each other's emotions, understanding their partner's unspoken needs, and just generally being all-around mind-readers and soul-soothers. But here's the kicker—I sometimes wonder if I'm even capable of being a good partner, let alone some sort of empathic wizard.

What kind of empath am I, if at all?!?! I mean, sure, empathy isn't just about shedding a tear during a sappy movie or patting someone’s back when they're upset. It's deeper, more subtle, and hey, pretty demanding. The truth is, I’ve spent ages trying to wrap my head around it. Am I supposed to have a PhD in psychic vibes, or what??? My husband, bless his soul, always says I’ve got a knack for tuning into his feelings.

But here's the rub—I don't feel it. It's like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that refuse to fit. I don't always get when he’s mad until he’s loud enough to startle the cat. Does this mean I’m emotionally tone-deaf? I read somewhere that "true empathy involves standing in someone else's shoes." What if I'm over here wandering around barefoot because I can't find the damn shoes???

So, I'm throwing this out there—am I alone in this empathy-challenged boat? Who else is grasping for straws in the feelings department? Please tell me I’m not the worst wife on the planet. After all, we've made it this far, and that counts for something, right??? Maybe being an "empath" is overrated, or maybe I just need more hands-on training. But hey, they say awareness is the first step, right? Maybe there's hope for me yet. Stay tuned.

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