WHY WITNESSING IS THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE
This world is beautiful. We are so blessed to be here at this moment in time. So much is coming clear and being revealed, and at the same time, if we look closely, there are so many tiny miracles happening on a daily basis. To be present and witness all these miracles is a great gift to give to ourselves and shows gratitude toward what we are witnessing. Gratitude keeps us healthy, happy, and generous.
When we practice witnessing, we encourage witnessing in what is being witnessed. The ones who feel seen by us may recognize how good that feels, and then be more aware of witnessing others.
It could be that witnessing cultivates more beauty in our perceived reality.
We all know what it feels like to be talked over, ignored, and underappreciated.
Even if you carry much fear of being seen, no one likes to feel invisible and forgotten. It is good even in the smallest ways to feel as though we matter. Feeling heard, if not by the world, then by those closest to us, builds us up. Who doesn’t want to feel cherished?
As someone who has made an entire career out of witnessing, I will tell you, witnessing without judgment or the need to control is a powerful way to grow. We are surrounded by mirrors in the form of different beings we come into contact with in this life. Through observation we learn more about who we are, what we want, and why we are here. The more we witness, the more we learn.
There are a few categories of folks who are worth being extra mindful of witnessing, if you are lucky enough to have them in your life:
1. Your Children.
If you are blessed with being a parent or having a child in your life, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence. They will never forget the ones who were there for them. Innocence is so wise, and if you really listen, you begin to understand that you have so much to learn from children. If you want a child to grow to be confident, listen to them and look up from the phone into their wide-open eyes. There is a whole universe there, you are invited, and there is a promise that it is filled with immeasurable joy.
2. Your Lover.
We say "I love you" through subtle actions more than our words. I can’t say exactly why this is, but one of the flaws of humanity is that the more familiar something is to us, the less we can see it. We perpetually focus on what is next rather than appreciating what we have, which is often what goes wrong in most relationships. It is a trap to get caught up on things you wish the other person would do or change about themselves. There is an opportunity to have a love that extends beyond the happily ever after if we are able to witness the small wonders of the other, the way he cares for the birds, his stability, his wisdom.
3. Your Elders.
When I was twelve I was bestowed the gift of tending the garden in an old folks home near my school as volunteer work. That led to me getting to the residents more, playing games with them, and becoming friends. I feel the best when I am around children or people who are in their eighties and beyond. The wise innocence of some folks in their winter years is a miracle to behold. Listening to their stories and realizing what matters to them toward the end is enlightening. It is a shame that in our culture there are so many older folks who feel lonely when they have so much to share. If there are elders in your life who you love, when they are gone, you will be forever grateful that you took time to witness them when they were embodied.
Witness your heart for the more your heart feels heard, the more she speaks. Witness the familiar, the ordinary. Witness your body. Witness nature. Witness friends. Witness those you work with. Witness your beautiful animals. Your children. Your creations. Witnessing is healing. If you love someone, slow down with them. Instead of waiting for your turn to speak, or worse, interrupting them, witness them. You don’t have to go so fast. If we want to receive a gift, we should first give that gift. Give the gift of presence. Keep going, you are doing well.