A Is For Acknowledgment

 Everyday we get up, and we just function, we go to work, home, school, or the grocery store. And, sometimes we take notice to others outside our purview. We say “Hello,” or How are you today?” And, that person may respond with ”Hi,” or “I’m fine.” Then we go about our day. However, how often do you really listen and acknowledge what that person is actually saying? And, how they say it? In fact do you even acknowledge yourself.

Some children are very expressive on how they are feeling. My goddaughter has told me a number of times, that she is “bright as star bright ”, or she feels like a “dandelion.” I translate these as she telling me she very happy or in a good mood. Of course as, adults, we don’t often express ourselves in such a manner around strangers, or even the closes of friends. It often can be a bit embarrassing for the individual to lower the guard, to allow other people to get close to them. True fact, if you want growth, and better connections, be it in work or personal, than that guard needs to come down. However, before it comes down, you have to acknowledge that it comes with own set of unknown variables. However, don’t let your thoughts and fears override you, and keep you from moving forward. Besides, not matter how comfortable we are in our own little zone, we all want to reach out and connect.

When we want to connect, our perspective changes. Now, when we hear “I’m fine,” we pay attention to the voice patterns, the body langauge, and what it may or may not be telling us. We dig deeper, and from that first step into the trenches. We may have just have lighten that person load. And, in doing so, we have open a door into our on psyche without realizing it. What have we been ignoring? What has fallen on to deaf ears. We all have something or somethings, we push to back of our mind, with a promise to focus on it later. And sometimes we trick ourselves into forgetting it back there. But, don’t lie to yourself, like the world finest wedge of cheese, it will rot, smell, and eventually come out. So take it out now, while it still fresh. However, now that you have acknowledge both sides of the field, you may not have to shelter the burden alone.