Engage or Not to Engage ...

 

"Be the one who nurtures and builds.  Be the one

who has an understanding and a forgiving heart

one who looks for the best in people. Leave people

better than you found them."

Marvin J. Ashton

When I sit surrounded by people I don't know very well, my imagination tends to seek an image as to who they are trying not to be.  Words are thrown out into conversation whether or not they are applicable to the subject at hand.  It is as though no one is listening, just spewing words.

Interjections clash against each other breaking the flow of conversation.  I begin to wonder if they are playing a game with each one given an individual subject and they can reflect only about their given topic.  These random words evaporate as know one present grasps them.

Bantering unnecessary words about makes me curious if any one is actually listening?  There does not even seem to be spaces between responses.  I no longer choose to be this way. I will not cast beautiful words into a jumbled arena.  I would rather stop listening all together, to stop trying to be a flickering light in the midst of a collective dark splatter.

Isolation to Inclusion

"Be  the one who nurtures and builds.   Be the one who has an understanding

and forgiving heart, one who looks for the best in people.  Leave people better

than you found them."

Marvin J. Ashton

Reaching out to help a person is not the same action as enabling or rescuing.  When we extend ourselves to assist, we are not promoting helplessness.  To enable a person, we allow them to dodge a responsibility and to rescue someone gives the message they are powerless. If we acknowledge their strength, they will experience ours.

To successfully help, we include lifting spirits and building hope.  We do not take power away, we encourage a person to utilize the power they have with our assistance, until we can step away.  The touch of our hand speaks volumes and kind words builds confidence.  

Using the opportunity to reach out to someone, we can use our skills to change immediate perception.  If someone has fallen, physically or intellectually, they feel foolish and embarrassed.  When we place our concentration on encouragement and minimize the incident, we help the person to move forward.  Touch and kind words move the fallen from isolation to inclusion.