The 4th Dimention

If you ever saw someone with a smile on their face and talked to them, do you think they would tell you why they were happy? Would they tell you about the fact that they got a big promotion or that they won an award or that they got out of work and are now on their way home to go on a vacation to Europe? I think they would.

Now, what if you saw someone who looked like they were about to cry? Someone whose eyes are all red and misty with a frown on their face. What if you asked them why they were sad, do you think they would tell you? Would they tell you that their wife left them for someone else or that their son or daughter ran away from home? I think if you asked them they would ignore you thinking you were trying to mock them. At the same time, however, maybe that sad person just needs someone to ask what's wrong and listen for everything to be ok. Maybe they just need someone to not say a word, not provide a solution and not try to compare to their problems to the problems of the sad person.

People are almost always willing to share their triumphs but the tragedies tend to stay inside. Sometimes it's because people don't want to hear your problems or if they do, they want to put their own input into things.

Posted by Tony Garlanger at 1:10 PM