" When you listen, you are still.
When you listen, you separate from your ego.
When you listen, you learn a thing or two.

You strengthen the muscle of empathy,
And lengthen the muscle of patience.

You allow others to feel seen and heard.
And when others are seen and heard,
they soften.
And when they soften,
they relinquish their armor.
When the armor is gone,
you see each other’s humanity.

And when your humanity is exposed,
your heart expands
And you see yourself in the other’s eyes. "

― Hania Khuri-Trapper , Rest Return: Weekly Reminders to Pause, Reflect, and Just Be