There's More Than One Story

I watched the news with growing humor. "So, they think this snow worth talking about?" I thought as the camera panned around to show a scattering of flakes nestled among the blades of grass.

You see, my views are completely influenced by growing up in Upstate New York where being inundated by lake affect snow was a regular thing. White-outs were our "snow storms". These little flurries were a joke to me.

That's because I've experienced differently.

I think this is an important point to make. Experience is a great teacher.

But what about things we do not experience? 

That's where we learn from the experience of others.

But what if we think our experience of an event is the only story? 

Then we would be wrong.

Empathy is described as the ability to live in another's shoes.

We can only do that if we listen to a story that is not ours, and give ourselves time to understand.

One of the most wonderful things about being a therapist is that I hear stories from all kinds of people. 

And that has changed me. 

I no longer hold to certain opinions, values or stances. Because I see more, hear more, and recognize that my former opinions were based on my limited experience. 

This exposure to another's story has humbled me because it has allowed me access into the struggles and sufferings of others.

It has enlightened me because I see how much we are influenced by labels. Labels lumps our stories into one story. That is no where near the truth.  

It has challenged me to be more open, to understand that I don't always understand, and to accept that there are things I will never know, even as I listen to someone's story.