Reasons & Respect

There are reasons I am the way the I am; that you are the way that you are.

The way a person reacts to any given stimuli or situation; why did they respond that way? What might be behind their hesitation or flash of anger?

Every person has a soul. Every person matters. Every person is important.

You are of value. I am if value. How I respond to you, effects you, and it effects me.

Are your actions called for? appropriate? healthy? yes? no? (and by or with what do we judge?)

How am I responding to your actions?

I may not be responsible for you, but I am responsible for me - yet in being responsible for myself, taking you into account is important. And really, on some level I am responsible for you. But it is wrapped up in the responsibility I am taking for myself.

So.

You. Me. Your co-worker. Mine.

What's going on inside of me, you, them, at the level deeper than surface?

Can it be dialogued about?
Can it be put into words?
Can an agreement be reached? Or not? And if not, or either way, can respect be shown?

What if one of us is incapable of or unwilling to?

Maybe a boundary could be set by the willing person to stay engaged with the reality of the other person having a soul, mattering, counting, while reasonably so, stepping back in to their own territory of responsibility and out-put.

And that this could be done respectfully (and ultimately genuinely) not only for the well-being of themselves. But really for the well being of the other person.

And really, all people everywhere.