#47: Advice

My sister's piece reminds me of a moving video on empathy I watched in a psychology class a couple years back. One little animal in the video was crying and pouring his heart out to the other big animal. The big animal looked a little uneasy, unsure of what to do or say to make things better. So he just remains silent, and the video ends with a big bear hug. And that was all that was really needed. 

- Amanda

Jaime Posa    posa.jaime@gmail.com  

I’m not so sure people want us to give them answers and advice,
As they want us to ask them good questions. 
And for us to hold a safe space for them. 
They may say “tell me how to do this”...
You may hear from them “what should I do now?”
But resting patiently underneath the words 
Splattered out in nervous mental paint
From a pallet of messy thoughts
Their heart is beating the answer,
The color they know they are looking for. 
And they might miss it if you are the one who tries to tell them where to look.
So, instead
Inch closer to them
With your empathy 
And with your openness
With softness of your breath 
And your loving heart beat the rhythm of your voice. 
Let your eyes be so clearly
Judgment free...
Your vessel such one of compassion 
That when they turn to look at you again for the answer 
They will feel it themselves 
Without you having to say anything at all.

Jaime's first-person bio:

I teach and I write and I create things and I see if I can be a better listener more consistently every day. I enjoy using food, nature and yoga as tools for experiencing a deeper sense of joy, connection and freedom (within myself and with other beings). I began regularly referring to myself as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer in 2012, after serving more than 2 years in El Salvador, and I aways refer to that because that experience is an inflection point for when I began more intentionally living. I actually sometimes say that Peace Corps "saved my life" and I kinda sorta mean that. My biggest joy in my work is when a child's face lights up.