Everyone has a story. The cranky aunt, the distant grandfather, the rude neighbor. Some people are tough nuts to crack, but if you take a moment to engage and listen with a sincere respect, you would discover a human being probably not much different than yourself: a life full of unanswered questions, blurry days, tender moments, simple regrets and lavish dreams, all woven into a well-lived story. Their story. Take a moment to listen. At first she may gently twist the wedding ring she still wears although her husband has been dead for nearly 35 years now. Lean in closer. Her eyes sparkle as she tells you every day with him was like a honeymoon and how she still misses him madly and deeply. She may even spin tales of her young wild nights in Spain one summer, or how she once was a ballroom dancer, or how she watched the sunrise after a long night of wine and poetry on a train with strangers who became lifelong friends, or how she loves to play Silent Night on the first snow of winter and it’s the only time she feels close to god. We all have a story. Perhaps towards the end of lives, after the magic and the tragic, we become a little worn, a little tired, or perhaps we just feel a little lonely and alone. Every one has a story. Each one of us wants to be accepted, to belong, to feel connected, and loved and maybe share a few chapters together along the way. Be respectful. Be a little kinder, especially to those old cowboy souls who have shuffled along this planet a little longer. You see, from a distance we miss the details and see only dark shadows and rough edges. But step closer and you will fall right into a beautiful, complex and animated novel of some one’s life. Everybody has a story. Listen. Live Well.
Written by Rebecca York at yorkwellness.blogspot.com.