On nothing

Nothingness is a curious feeling.  You can easily argue for or against whether or not feeling nothing is feeling something that is nothing (mind you, I'm not writing about feeling numb).  It is a sensation I experience more and more as recent time has passed.

I'm unsure whether or not this is a blessing or a curse.  Being able to be faced with a situation and feel nothing can be advantageous.  It may allow for clearer thinking when a decision must be made.  It may allow you to pass through some kind of danger unharmed.  Beyond those to ideas, I can think of no other advantages.  

Disadvantages seem obvious.  You aren't feeling.  There is no high, no low, no happiness, no saddness; there is nothing.  You could argue such a feeling can be described as "flat."  I'm unsure if flat is what this is.  Perhaps it is, but I can't recognize it well enough to be confident in a description of "flat."

When analyzing this not feeling, the question arises of how is it possible to not feel?  I don't think it is  Using me as an example, I know do smile, laugh, seem happy, etc., but if I dive into introspection the quesiton becomes am I actually [insert emotion]?  Doubt will always appear, especially if you cannot remember any events of true elation or the like.  Perhaps Descartes would relish in this line of self examination.  Though I won't use a circular argument to come to a conclusion.

Why even write this?  A friend of mine had a moment of emotion today.  I could feel no empathy.  I knew I could feel it, because I think I have before.  Now one ought not empathize with everything they observe, but the problem comes when one tries to empathize, but cannot, despite having the experience that would allow them to do so.