I have found a good way to know someone at a deeper level is to ask them about their grown children. They will start telling you about their kids’ jobs, where they live ect. Then I tell them “No, tell me what kind of people they are.” They usually pause, their facial expression will change and they start telling me about a person who means the world to them. A person they always want to talk about. As they do so, I ask them more open-ended questions about their child’s personality, hopes, and dreams.
One of the things I miss most about my parents is not having someone to tell things about my children. They wanted to hear it as much as I wanted to say it. When I ask someone about their children, I’m giving them that present.
The way people respond tells me more about them than their children. I can see if they get the true value of this gift. The ones who do, are usually people I’d like to know better. They seem to have more depth to their soul and it can open the gateway to that depth in a way they don’t often show.
I like conversing with others, but am not much for small talk. People I know semi-well don’t often get past the superficial things in life. I’ll break out the big ask, if it feels right and I have the time to truly listen. It’s a gift to them, and to me as well. Nothing more complicated than perception.
May you have enough today, one moment at a time.
THIS HELPED ME 