It took receiving a handmade card from someone who's been a big part of my life but whose own is sadly largely circumscribed right now to realize a core home truth.
It was a just-right card & a beautifully connecting note. And it made me realize that one of my strengths - from my original teaching days to now - is to bring out the best in others. Can say that without a smidgen of boasting because it's nothing that I intentionally do. Actually, it's something I believe we are all called to do & often accomplish without any awareness.
Personally, I was clueless about people bringing out the best in others until after marrying John. Within a very short time, it was clear that he drew out the best in me. Because he saw it. He saw it & because of that I flourished.
He did the same thing for his Mom. For mine. For my siblings & our friends. John sees the best in others & as a result, they can become their best.
It's easy to bring out the best in others when that's what you see. It seems that I tend to see the parts of people that work & focus on those things. In turn, those things tend to flourish & increase, due to simply being mirrored back.
Looking back, can see that was one of Mom's great gifts. She saw the genuine best in others. As happens with a lot (maybe most) of us, she was more challenged with it when it came to family, but my whole being is smiling remembering certain people who just bloomed under her attention. People who were gnarly & difficult with others, who practically purred around Mom & were their very best selves. I have them in my mind & her effect - of which she had NO idea - is forever in my heart.
When I think of my various grannie clients, can see that my #1 strength is seeing & recognizing their best selves, freeing them to see the same, to celebrate it & live it to the fullest.
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