listening skills

You know how it is when you were busy minding your own worries in life then somebody comes along and vent out her own frustrations? Momentarily you would forget you own despairs. Much so if her problems are worse than yours.

I stayed late at work to lessen the piling work load of mine, unpaid of course. And there she was at the lobby waiting for another officemate of mine, her closest I suppose. She was part of my program but then got fired for all those tardiness she incurred. During her stay, I would say we were not really friends but she was one of those few peeps I exchanged pleasantries with.

Turned out that friend of hers went home already. So our few exchange of hellos became an hour or so of therapy session. For both of us I would say. As she was venting our her heartaches, I played the shrink part, giving out my two cents about all of it. At the same time, I was also reassessing myself.

I thought it was just a simple case of infidelity. Sure I said to myself I can relate to that. Very much. But as she was unraveling her story, it was worse than I have thought.

Of course there's that third wheel on the picture- that other woman who couldn't care less as long as she gets her man. But other than that, O's problem is biological too. She would have to go under an operation in order to bear a child. Her man of three years from what I could tell didn't love her that much to shoulder the expenses for it

So that's the gist of it. Of course she went out ranting her fears, frustrations etc. around it. I listened to her with an understanding heart and only dished out my own opinions whenever she asked me what to do. My advice on her was that, it is okay to be stupid because of love but up to a point- that she doesn't deserve all of these miseries. She would have to make a decision. She has to demand a decision from her boyfriend as well. And both of them would have to live by it whatever it may be.

I gave her my number just in case she thinks she needs someone to talk. I told her that she can send me message via Facebook too. I even warned her jokingly that if she's planning to have a suicide, I am not the best person for it. She asked her if I could pray for her instead but I apologized since I am an atheist. I simply told her to imagine my own situation, much sadder and lonelier since I don't have a deity to give my up all my problems to.

As I finish this entry of mine, a passing fancy came into my mind. I was wondering now what like cold have been had I finished my college and actually became a psychiatrist/psychologist...

Anyways, back to reality. I suppose my part to play the patient is long overdue. I contacted a friend from college (who is currently taking her master's degree in some behavior studies) to meet with me sometime within this week or two. 

I too need an understanding heart.