I’m a late bloomer when it comes to humility. Some people (namely my wife) may well believe that I have not yet begun to bloom, but I am, somewhat awkwardly, giving myself credit for being less self-centered than I once was. My years working in education had me in situations where I was repeatedly reminded that people and their security, development, and ability to learn, were the most important things I was charged with amplifying and protecting.
I have worked hard to listen earnestly to others, particularly learning not to interrupt them as they talk to me. My son and I do this dance when we speak (at least I find myself dancing), as both of our brains work faster than our ears and our mouths, so we/I lurch into reply mode well before I have fully heard him, and he bores on through because he has learned that’s the only way to get a complete thought in edgewise. Like I said, I’m working on it.
There are many ways we value others. We give them our time, help them grow, and give them the space to be themselves emotionally when it is tough to do that. We just sit with people in their sorrow, anger, and confusion. The bottom line is that investing in others makes us far richer than any other kind of investment, and valuing others for who they are is the best gift we can give. Thanks for listening!
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