Being a Lifeline

[Steppingfeet]

You are right, Gary. The circumstances can vary vastly from person to person, which is why it is important, as you said, to actually listen and focus on what the person needs/desires instead of what you automatically assume they need (I am totally guilty of this one). Often this involves listening with the heart as well as the ears...some people, like me, can be extremely complicated in the signals they give, and there is never an element of absolute certainty. However, if you go into it with love and a pure intent for open service, I would say that 99.9% of the time the effort will be appreciated, down the road if not directly in the moment.

Yeah, I would say half or more of the service is simply in the offering to be of service, and the stating (through verbal or other means) of the desire to be of aid to the other based upon the other's needs. Just knowing that someone is there for you, has you in their heart, is willing to expend energy/time/resources to help you, is often a great facilitator of healing of self by the self.

This is all based simply on my own experiences and things that other people have told me in conversation regarding their experiences. Perhaps I should have used "suggested" and "not suggested" instead of "do" and "don't", as it certainly isn't my place to boss anyone around or to establish a concrete code of behavior. As always, using one's own discernment and following one's highest idea is strongly encouraged.

You opened with the all-important disclaimer: "1.This entire post is IMHO and based mostly upon my own experiences. In no way do I claim to have a monopoly on human experience."

And that idea was written into your words, it just wasn't spelled out that this may vary from person to person.

Were I a teacher and you in my class, I would give you an A++ for this paper.

But I'm not, so I only respond with appreciation and admiration for the intrinsic beauty of this expression of self.

: ) GLB