relationships – Heather Hoyt

I’m not that busy. I’m not too busy to respond to your text message. I’m not too busy to say hello. I’m not too busy to see how you are doing. I’m not too busy to say yes. I’m not too busy to visit and talk.

I can help you out. I can answer a question. I can show up. I can volunteer. I can play with you. I can hold you if you need comfort. I can smile. I can listen when you need to vent. I can offer advice when you’re confused about what to do. I can go and have fun with you.

I can laugh. I can create. I can learn.

I am not too busy with doing stuff. I have time for the people who are most important in my life: you. You matter. And I have time for you. I will make time for you. All that other stuff can wait.

At a writing conference, I asked a writer about advice on networking. And she said to treat everyone as your equal.

There are certain situations you get it that have a hierarchy: at a writing conference, there are presenters and attendees. In college, there are teachers, graduate students, and undergraduates. Often, you are surrounded by people who are not on the same plane as you are.

But treat them as your equal anyway.

Treat the grocery store clerk as your equal. Treat your students as your equal. Treat your bosses as your equal. Treat your children as your equal. Treat random strangers as your equal.

When you start to really love other people and see their worth, you can make better connections with them. Your conversations are fuller and more vibrant. You gain empathy and can help others who need it.

You can learn together. You can feel like you are on the same team. You can find better confidence in yourself and better ability to encourage others.

Treat everyone as your equal.

Tag: relationships

I’m not that busy

Treat Everyone As Your Equal