People Are Lessons
When relationships fall apart, I often hear sayings such as "This too shall pass" or "Everything happens for a reason."
Familiar words of comfort or perspective. Especially in difficult times, from broken marriages or friendships to all sorts of breakup.
People come into your life. Some stay long or enduringly. Some stay short. But yes, all your relationships with people happen for a reason.
It's important to see the part people play in your life or self development, regardless of outcomes.
Recently, I was speaking to a mother with her teenager son. Her son was verbally "bullying" me during our time together. Ignoring. Criticizing. Discounting. Invalidating.
In the course of the mother's account, I got informed that her son was severely bullied before in school and had lately been kicked out of school for his bullying other students on campus.
Unfortunately, some missed learning the lessons from people who hurt them.
In the case of the teenager son in my session, he duplicated the same mistake in his own life rather than catching the lessons he can learn from those who bullied him in the past. Life lessons such as on how to treat others, kindness, friendship, communication.
People are lessons.
From your spouse or fiancée who loves you, you learn the value of intimacy in finding joy and meaning in life.
From a friend who taught you to save and invest money, you're taught what's worth buying for and what's worth letting go of.
From a parent who worked hard for your studies and future, you can thank for the lesson of sacrifice and devotion in caring for your child.
From a loved one who betrayed or broke your heart, you learn the lesson that pain is temporary and wholeness is everything.
From the stranger who flashed a smile at you or extended courtesy to you, you learn the lesson that not all people are harmful or damaging.
People are lessons.
Let's learn from them well as we age forward.
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