Give ‘em a Chance

By Katie Nall, Ph.D.

The month of December is marked with an increase in social gatherings – both friends and family.

And there may be some friends (or even family) who you knew you didn’t like or others who you felt as if you already knew them well enough.

But over the years, wouldn’t you agree you have changed? Maybe others have changed as well.

This past summer, I reconnected with a cousin I knew growing up and only connected with as an adult during life highlights. I know I knew her and absolutely knew what her life was like. Until I took an extended trip with her.

As it turns out, I didn’t know her at all.

Conversations turned into real sharing as we both really discovered one another. During that trip, as we shared personal experiences, trials, tribulations, and celebrations, we shared more in common than we thought. We both laughed and cried as we deepened our relationship.

Maybe your “Aunt Martha” isn’t the same as she was when you were younger. Maybe you could ask her questions about her youth, about her struggles, about her victories and understand her a little better.

Maybe you can share a little more about yourself – about how you have changed even in the past year. Maybe you can give others a chance to get to know the real you.