I sometimes feel like my family members are "sick" emotionally, and because I empathize and sympathize with them, it's very easy for me to "catch" their ailments and get sucked into their issues.
I live far away from them now and it has helped me love and appreciate them more, because I'm not constantly trying to stop them from sucking energy out of me. They don't realize they're doing it, it's a habit, and it makes for a lot of work on my part, and I wouldn't choose their company if they weren't family. So, I find it's easier, and healthier, to love them from a distance.
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