Advice.
People are quick to offer advice, but reluctant to listen. I find that you learn so much more in listening than trying to reason; trying to understand, or give your point of view. Even more than hearing words, I have come to love understanding silence. Silence truly speaks volumes, if you listen closely enough that is. I sit back and I listen, I hear what is said and what is left unsaid and I begin to think of the millions of things I could say, what I could interject with... how I could fix it. The truth is, most people don't want "fixing" they want someone to listen and acknowledge what they are saying and to vindicate that they are not irrational for their beliefs. It is amazing how people open up to you, and how you can see a side of a person you never noticed was there... behind rough exteriors there are wounded interiors... emotions you never thought someone was struggling with, past hurts left unresolved, deep core beliefs that you know are so far from accurate but it pains you to know they feel this way. The healer in me wants to reach out and try to resolve everything right away, but healing takes time. The first step to healing is acknowledging the hurt, the most painful part of the experience. We have all been in a place of hurt. We have all struggled with feelings that others may not understand, we all hide behind a slew of masks... but it is truly a beautiful thing to see the mask come off and to get a glimpse of the real person. To see who they are when guards are let down.
My advice, be quick to listen and slow to speak. You will learn so much more that way.
