Offering Worth

“We are sun and moon, dear friend;

we are sea and land.

It is not our purpose to become each other;

it is to recognize each other,

to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is:

each the other's opposite and complement.”   

― Hermann Hesse  

Narcissus and Goldmund

 

 

Most of us find ourselves back into the after holiday routines or reality.  Some will be marveling over how much they ate while others are proud of their restraint.  Either way, we are who we have allowed ourselves to be or not to be.

 

When most people are asked, "Who are you?" they promptly list accomplishments, associations, family, political and religious affiliations.  These are all descriptions of participation, and do not tell us who we truly are.  I wonder if we truly know who we really are.

 

It amazes me that our culture places so much attention on competition and ready made labels for everyone to achieve.  We are total individuals, each having unique characteristics or talents to be shared.  I don't understand 'pitting' people against each other when we should be honoring our own personal gifts.  Why spend so much time trying to be like another when we could be using our energy to better define our lovely selves. 

 

In my writers group, we are all avid readers, thus naming ourselves THE BOOK WHORES.  We all read different things and that is ok.  We all write on different subjects and that is ok too.  We encourage and support each other to do better and sometimes this means making suggestions to improve our style or content.  From each other we learn as we all have varying strengths.  We pool our expertise, making us all better for it. 

 

It is good to recognize the strengths of others, even in those we don't necessarily agree with.  We don't have to agree, but we enhance our very selves when we try to understand what prompts the difference in thinking.  We can and do learn from each other.  We advance our learning by being open to others and we grow stronger through the experience.

 

Just try to look others right into their eyes and open both ears.  Really listen and try to recognize who this person is inside ... the worth they are offering.