Even a question as innocuous as "Going Home?" to a friendly stranger you meet everyday can be hurtful to them. As any person with his/her truck-load of experiences would say, there is very few you can talk about to someone at a given time. Truth is, there really is nothing you can talk about to someone without a background check or risking an awkward moment. Your colleague just had a fight with their parents, your neighbor has an unexpected death in the family. Concisely, everybody has their own emotional baggage. And ironically, you aren't really normal if you drop yours and move on. And the sole reason we do not have to face such a situation so often is because everyone is infidel to somebody else's problems. Its not selfishness, its priority. And when the listener is attentive, know this, they are good at heart. It is evident that they prioritize you over them, even if for a while.
And yet, most of us turn a blind eye to these little, but very valuable diamonds. Why bother about it, when your sun sets just when their does? What difference does it make to not pay attention or to do to these tiny details? Turns out, these acts, they all need a little validation. Acknowledgement that their presence makes a difference. A kid is happy when he gets money for an ice-cream because he got good grades. He is happier when the guardian gifts him one for the same.
What does it take to go that extra step forward? Just a smile, or a pat on the back or a sentence saying they did a good job. Its definitely harder than going back to your own life and fighting against the hay for that needle.
The attitude for gratitude is exactly what is missing from us. Ever wondered why the same pleasant friend was being particularly nasty with you? Ever stopped to think that maybe he/she is having a tough day and needs a shoulder to pull through. Not contributing, even if possible, is in itself further antagonizing for them. One feels taken for granted, simply put.
The day this happens, remember, you have all but one chance of making it right by reaching out to them and sharing their baggage. The day you miss this chance is when they start walking away from you. And in the end, its you who's going to end up alone. Regretting.
And yet, most of us turn a blind eye to these little, but very valuable diamonds. Why bother about it, when your sun sets just when their does? What difference does it make to not pay attention or to do to these tiny details? Turns out, these acts, they all need a little validation. Acknowledgement that their presence makes a difference. A kid is happy when he gets money for an ice-cream because he got good grades. He is happier when the guardian gifts him one for the same.
What does it take to go that extra step forward? Just a smile, or a pat on the back or a sentence saying they did a good job. Its definitely harder than going back to your own life and fighting against the hay for that needle.
The attitude for gratitude is exactly what is missing from us. Ever wondered why the same pleasant friend was being particularly nasty with you? Ever stopped to think that maybe he/she is having a tough day and needs a shoulder to pull through. Not contributing, even if possible, is in itself further antagonizing for them. One feels taken for granted, simply put.
The day this happens, remember, you have all but one chance of making it right by reaching out to them and sharing their baggage. The day you miss this chance is when they start walking away from you. And in the end, its you who's going to end up alone. Regretting.
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