Many years ago I had someone ask me how I was doing. It was at a time when I was carrying a particularly heavy burden, and as I had long since learned that question most often really wasn’t a question at all but simply a “social greeting” I also learned my expected reply was to be “I’m fine, how are you?”.
However, this person, an exception to the rule saw through me and made it clear he really meant it when he asked, and this kindness affected my weary soul in such a way I then tearfully shared.
Shortly thereafter I went into the appointment for which I’d been waiting, in hopes of gaining some counsel in regard to the situation I was dealing with.
I honestly cannot recall anything about that counseling “meeting” but all these decades later I still vividly recall that act of kindness wherein someone expressed sincere care to help carry my burden, done simply by listening with a genuine heart.
Today I read a comment wherein someone said they don’t share their troubles because we all have our troubles or issues. Her point being where others have their own burdens they need not be troubled with hers.
But the thing is, our load is literally made lighter when we extend care and concern beyond ourselves. I don’t know how this works, but from experience, I do know it’s true, and thus if we ALL did this for one another no one would carry life’s burdens alone.
They say two heads are better than one, so imagine if we each extended ourselves to others and developed a massive network of emotional support….
Gina Bohannon Hayes