Seeing vs respecting. Respect has, as it’s root, the latin word respicio which means to see. I think it has a deeper connotation than the meaning we ascribe to the word respect. I see you vs I respect you. To me, saying I see you means I see through the surface layers of who or what I may think you are and rather than pushing my own value system on you, I simply place value on you being as you are.
I "see" you
Empathy is the art of not taking things personally!