This post was originally written in 2009 and is still very relevant to me. I hope you think so as well.
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If only humans had it this easy when it comes to understanding each other
A norm that I aspire to, however difficult it can be at times is this one:
Seek to understand before being understood.
I just read a story about an administrator who practices this norm.
From Karen S. about a Kindergarten student in trouble in Talking Him Off the Ledge at Talkworthy:
“In a few minutes, he got the idea that I wasn’t there to make his day more miserable but that I was genuinely trying to understand him.”
She described the encounter between herself and the child as magical. I felt the magic as I read her words. Karen is a true leader. Go read the whole story. It’s a story worth listening to, sharing, and believing.
“We are responsible not only for the stories we tell and the stories we listen to, but for the stories we choose to believe.” ~Thomas King