Carrying a Burden - By Fatima Barakat

Written By: Fatima Barakat

Category: Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Join us in welcoming Fatima Barakat with her essay "Carrying a Burden," a thought-provoking entry in the Essay category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This poignant piece delves into the complexities of understanding human experiences beyond the visible, exploring the profound importance of empathy in connecting with others. Fatima invites readers to contemplate the unseen burdens individuals carry and the role of kindness in bridging these hidden worlds.

About the Work

Fatima Barakat's essay "Carrying a Burden" eloquently examines the intricate layers of human emotion and the unseen experiences that shape individuals. Through a reflective narrative, she highlights the significance of empathy as a bridge to understanding others, emphasizing that genuine compassion transcends the need for complete knowledge of another's pain. Her insightful exploration of emotional depth encourages readers to consider the invisible stories behind every smile and silence.

Carrying a Burden

Original Submission by Fatima Barakat

There is a strange arrogance in assuming that a person can be understood by what is visible.

A person is never only what they show. Everyone carries an invisible collection of experiences that cannot be seen from across a room. Some carry grief. Some carry fear. Some carry expectations they are exhausted from trying to meet. Some are carrying the aftermath of something they have never told anyone about. Others may not even know how to explain what they are carrying themselves.

That is why empathy matters.

Empathy is often described as the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, but I think that description makes it sound easier than it really is. You cannot always put yourself in someone else’s shoes. You have not lived their childhood, their disappointments, their relationships, their fears, or the private moments that shaped the way they see the world. Trying to imagine exactly how another person feels can sometimes create the illusion that you understand them when you really do not.

Real empathy can begin with admitting that.

Two people can experience the same event and walk away carrying completely different emotions. One person might receive criticism and forget about it before the day ends. Another might hear the same words and replay them for weeks. One person might see a cancelled plan as an inconvenience; another might have been looking forward to it because it was the one thing getting them through a difficult week. The event is identical. The experience is not.

This is why kindness cannot depend entirely on understanding. If compassion required perfect knowledge of another person’s pain, very little compassion would exist. There will always be things about other people that we cannot know. There will be histories we were not present for, wounds we cannot see, and battles that have nothing to do with us. We do not need access to all of them before deciding to care.

There is also a difference between empathy and pity. Pity places someone beneath you; empathy meets them beside you.

None of these possibilities excuse cruelty or mean that every difficult behavior should be tolerated. Empathy is not the same as abandoning boundaries. It is simply the decision to leave space for a story you do not know. Because every person is more complicated than the version you meet.

A smile does not tell you everything. Neither does silence. Confidence can hide insecurity. Humor can hide exhaustion. Anger can hide hurt. Even happiness can coexist with sadness. People are layered. Their lives are full of chapters that strangers will never read.

So the next time someone behaves in a way you do not understand, there is another question worth asking before judging them: What if there is something I cannot see?

You may never find out the answer, and that is exactly why empathy matters.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices from around the world. It offers writers the opportunity to share their unique perspectives and explore various genres, from poetry to essays. This competition is dedicated to fostering creativity and providing a stage for emerging and established writers to showcase their talents.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Fatima Barakat for her compelling essay "Carrying a Burden." Her participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 enriches our appreciation for the nuanced experiences that shape our lives. We are grateful for her contribution and the thought-provoking dialogue it inspires.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.