I’ve been ruminating about the difference between jealousy, envy, indignation, vicarious pleasure, and altruism. You observe a person eating what looks like a scrumptious ice cream cone. If jealous, you are angry that the person has the cone and you don’t. You wish the sun would melt it away or better, that the whole scoop would fall out and land on the sidewalk. If envious, you don’t begrudge the person their cone but you wish so much for your own that you feel bereft, less than. Righteous indignation happens if the person obtained their cone with ill-gotten gains; perhaps you saw them take it from a small child. Maybe you can feel vicarious pleasure. This is feeling real delight as you observe someone else’s happiness. You are genuinely pleased that the person enjoys their treat so thoroughly. This ultimately can lead you to altruism. When altruistic, you are the person who has the ice cream and, to feel vicarious joy, you give it away, or at least, share it. Can’t we all resolve to feel vicariously and be altruistic? Life would be sweeter for all. Happy New Year. 

Peter Rosnick

Conway