How do we say we care?
Thinkers and feelers. It’s not that we care less. We only care differently.
How do we explain that we care at all?
Sure seems like we need each other.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Hi Liz!
So…how do we say we care?
Sometimes by not saying anything and by just listening.
Totally…without judgement.
Just…l-i-s-t-e-n-i-n-g.
By giving permission to let the other person be who they need to be at that moment.
Sometimes it’s hard to listen this way.
But sometimes we just need to be understood by someone who doesn’t say anything to us.
Tom 🙂
We were sitting in my car and she turned to me, looked me in the eyes, and said:
“I don’t think I said this to you before, but I just want you to know that I really appreciate you.”
What else could you possibly want? That says it all.
In my experience. By our actions. It doesn’t matter if we just start by listening or end with giving a hand, it is by our actions that show that we care.
I’ve never had the problem of empathizing with people. Some days it can be a problem for me because I have to struggle to differentiate which are my own thoughts and which are the feelings of the people I’m comforting. That’s why at the end of it, it’s about separating what you feel while understanding what they feel.
It’s hard but, I’ve learnt the hard way that sometimes comforting with feelings can bring about more harm for both people than actual good.
Hey Tom,
It’s true. Sometimes we say the most just by listening. I like that you spelled that out.
Hi Alex,
What more could you want?
I really appreciate you, too.
It would be wonderful if we all remembered to think about how much people mean to us and remembered to tell them so . . . like she did for you.
Hi Edrei,
You are wise to know that we can’t always join someone in their feelings, that sometimes we have to stay separate to offer comfort for an aching heart. I agree. It’s not always easy to do that. That’s how I know it’s wisdom that you understand. 🙂
If we care, we know someone and we know – try to know, because we care to get the message across – how and when, mostly, the ones we care about thinks, feels.
If we know each other, we see/hear/feel the caring message – sometimes even without words or touches. We just know and accept gracefully.
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Hi Karin!
So it seems that if we care, we also listen for it and make room in our hearts to hear it.
Caring is an active role in communcation, isn’t it?
I couldn’t see it any differently. Active means it’s also ‘growing’ somehow or like a see-saw – ongoing motion 😉
Karin H.
Yeah, Karin!
It’s impossible to care and not be a part of what’s going on. I like how you bring in the thought of growing . . . that made me think of “caretaking,” “caring for,” and “taking care of.” 🙂