“An honorable human relationship — that is, one in which two people have the right to use the word ‘love’ – is a process, delicate, violent, often terrifying to both persons involved, a process of refining the truths they can tell each other.”
–Adrienne Rich
What truth about yourself have you learned in conversation with someone else?
I have learned about the kinds of unconscious assumptions and pre-concptions I tend to make about other people and how wrong those assumptions can be.
I have learned that I can listen sympathetically to someone tell about his/her misfortunes, disasters, losses, mistakes etc. and I can use consoling words and phrases that I think are appropriate to express that I am listening but there is a “but”. I often can not help to solve the problem for them; it usually needs some sort of action or change in attitude on her/his part. It is then that I can give help more when I understand what direction the solution is going.
I have learned that I can listen sympathetically to someone tell about his/her misfortunes, disasters, losses, mistakes etc. and I can use consoling words and phrases that I think are appropriate to express that I am listening but there is a “but”. I often can not help to solve the problem for them; it usually needs some sort of action or change in attitude on her/his part. It is then that I can give help more when I understand what direction the solution is going.
sorry for the oops dup; I really don’t understand why this often happens.