About 4 years ago, I met a guy from Kenya during a group activity where we were given a task in pairs. The task was simple: "Tell each other the story of the happiest moment in your life".
In the day to day we tend to forget that we all are unique in
our own way and the things we have lived deserve to be recognized and valued
I barely knew him then, however we started talking as instructed. He started his story, and I remember how his expression would slowly change, as he got more into it, his eyes lit in joy and he could not help smiling while sharing the details of that happy moment of his. He would sometimes stop and laugh as if remembering a part that could not be shared, he was living it again.
Yesterday, someone made my day in the most unexpected way. And it was during a job interview.
I had an appointment at 9:00 a.m so I woke up early and decided to go to a cafe next to the place where the interview would be held. I had an orange juice, and in the few minutes I had, I started thinking of the things I had done in the past. Faces, smells, countries, pictures started appearing in front of me and I couldn't help smiling just thinking of them.
It was time for the interview, I met the lady, a very energetic, tall woman with blonde hair. She came into the waiting room in a rush and apologizing for a small delay.
I had prepared with the possible answers to any professional questions that might pop. I was expecting an all out interview, however she only had for me a big smile and this question:
"What have you done and what do you wish?"
I started sharing my story with her and the things that I really wanted, which reminded me of how few opportunities we are given to share these things. After a while, I guess that I as my Kenyan friend had a big smile in my face and a good feeling for being able to talk about this. I left the interview with a renewed spirit and feeling good for what my life is and very grateful for the opportunity of sharing it.
It made me think of when was the last time that I asked someone to share their story and just listened to them with the only intention of letting them understand the value of what they have done. Although we might think we would ask this for ourselves, the odds are we are doing more good to the other person by just asking.
In the day to day we tend to forget that we all are unique in our own way and the things we have lived deserve to be recognized and valued, mainly by ourselves.
When was the last time that you told your story to someone? What are the good things for which you deserve to give some credit to yourself?
There is no regular story. Perhaps, it's not bad to ask more often... "what have you done and what do you wish?"
After all, there is no need of a group activity to make someone feel good about what they have lived.
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