Francis Gay MY WEEK

To lend an ear can help to heal...and we can all do it

You know those people who want to share their life story? How about – sometimes – we let them?

I met a woman out walking today. I commented on the weather. From that, I got the story of her battle with cancer, right down to what she could and couldn’t eat during her treatments. And the aftereffects she lived with. I could have left at any point. But...an experience like that will shake you to your core. We deal with such things by talking about them. Putting them into words helps us understand them, allows us to express our dismay, gratitude, fear, and all the rest. So, I waited, listening and commenting, while her therapy continued.

It may have only helped a little but I’m sure it helped. If something similar happened to me, I would want to tell the world. I hope people would also listen to my story.