This stark reality hits hard, as does every bit of the heartfelt writings of Khaled Hosseini.

But, What If You Don’t Think They Are You?

Maybe, listening is about really comprehending what the person intends to convey, and not filtering out validation for the story in our head from the words of the other person.

And, maybe, listening is about seeing people – accepting people – for who they are in this phase of their life, and not who we wish they were for us – not wishing they were us.

How often did we wish we were seen for who we mean to be, and not feel smothered by the expectations set for us with God-knows-what reason?

It is beautiful to find the courage to show up as who you are, true to your soul.
It is just as beautiful to understand that this true-to-your-soul version is different for different people.

It is elegant to not try to clone another person into your values and perceptions.

It is flawsome to have such fleeting moments of unrealistic expectations, only to accept that people are good enough without meeting all your expectations.

~ thoughts in solitude ~

Authenticity for you can be “meaning everything you say”. For someone who means to hold back, authenticity is, in fact, just that – holding back from expressing the mingled-up thought-webs in their mind.

Disclaimer: I say this from a place of understanding and acceptance; neither from resentment, nor from some hypothetical moral high ground.

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