Ever since I was a little girl, I was always talkative and very easy to initiate conversation with. I would talk to anyone who would give me the time of day, and I paid attention when people talked to me. I cared about people’s lives and feelings, because I was naturally curious. But that curiosity wasn’t always welcomed. Sometimes people would get defensive, others thought it was endearing. But I was also never afraid to be myself, to be seen and emotional in front of other people. I was honest and vulnerable as I could be, even if it meant being ridiculed and misunderstood.
When someone is vulnerable, you should accept it. Don’t punish them for feeling what they’re feeling. Listen.
A person who is brave enough to be seen and vulnerable to a loved one, friend or colleague is someone who seeks to live an authentic life.
I once told a human resources manager about how I didn’t like my boss and how she treated me. I cried in her office and I was surprised at how well she took my outburst. Considering that I was a young high school graduate and it was my first job, she looked at me with sympathy and was nothing but generous and kind to me…
