Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/a-manner-of-speaking/5022603/
“I looked into your eyes and thought, ‘Oh, there you are.’” Tina Reeble spoke these powerful words to the program presenters for 2014 World Forum on Early Care and Education in Puerto Rico. Her message crossed the miles and months of preparation, the thousands of e-mails and remote communications. She brought us together in the moment, into the present intimacy of eye-to-eye physical connection. Her delivery and her choice of words made each of us sit up proudly in the joy of being recognized. Isn’t that what we all want, what we all need, after all — to be seen?
We came into the room as individuals, many as strangers to one another, and yet we were able to recognize each other through the power of our common purpose. We knew each other through our shared vision to lift up our world’s young children. “Ah, there you are. I see you. You matter to me.” It feels good. It’s empowering — being recognized, feeling visible, having presence. It’s acknowledgement and connection. It’s validation. Being seen, we feel more accountable for our actions. This connection to others brings us into the open and exposes us. And we move forward as our best selves.