I posted this on an aroace subreddit and what I loved is that everyone seemed to have their own interpretation of what it meant and how it applied to them.
I recently went out to bar and coped being in a public setting by imagining myself as one of those alien cantina patrons from Star Wars. Perhaps I was coming across as odd, but who amongst me would care or even notice in a place such as this? I had no obligation to step any further out of my comfort zone, merely to enrich the environment with my unique presence.
Either people need to learn how to tell the difference between an “I’m sorry” that takes direct responsibility and an “I’m sorry” that signifies sympathy, or I’m gonna start responding to unfortunate information with a solemn nod and a “Sympies,” because I am tired of receiving a “Why? It wasn’t your fault” every time I try to vocalize compassion.