Be Part Of Someone’s Story
Everyone has a story to tell — if only you have the ear or the heart to listen. But while everyone has a story, not everyone is a storyteller. Many cannot share their experiences in a way that grips your interest. Their stories might feel disjointed, rough to the ear — interesting in parts, dull in others. And because they sense what may bore you, they often skip those parts and focus only on what they think will hold your attention.
The role of a listener is never to make someone feel that their story is boring. Pay attention — not just to their words, but to how their eyes light up at every incident, every opinion. These small expressions are your gateway to knowing them better. When you see how they react to the memories and events of their life, you begin to understand how much those moments mean to them. In turn, you begin to understand who they are and why they became the way they are.
If you truly wish to be close to someone — close enough for them to be fond of you — you must learn to live their stories with them. You cannot be present in their past, but by giving attention when they speak, you move one step closer to their heart. They will remember your presence, your attention, the respect you showed to their most vulnerable moments — and they will love you for it.
To know someone deeply, you must step into their stories — if not in body, then in spirit, as they tell them. Watch them grow passionate, vulnerable, emotional, joyful — and you will discover that there’s far more to someone who appears ordinary.