The art of conversation is the art of hearing as well as of being heard.” William Hazlitt
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair adalah salah satu tradeshow terbaik di dunia untuk lifestyle product mulai dari kesehatan, beauty, fashion, commercial gifts, hingga aneka peralatan travel dan outdoor. Siang itu, saya mengunjungi salah satu teman bernama Stephen yang saya kenal beberapa tahun silam,
“Hello Stephen, saya membawakan little gift untuk kamu, mie rasa rendang dan beberapa jenis tea khas Indonesia.” Menyodorkan kantung kecil ke Stephen yang membalas dengan senyuman lebar namun terlihat segumpal air mata yang tertahan di sudut matanya dan terlihat sembab.
“Are you okay ?”
“ I am. By the way, Terima kasih untuk giftnya.“
“You clearly not okay. Remember, kita sudah berteman lebih dari dua tahun and I am all ears.” Saya menarik kursi tepat dihadapannya dan menatap dalam.
Stephen mulai menceritakan dengan sesekali menarik nafas dalam and he started to shared all his problems with me for almost an hour and I was listening to it silently. Tak terasa air mata di sudut mata ikut tergenang and deep inside, I was feeling guilty as I could not do anything for him.
Hati saya mulai terasa sesak karena sedih mendengarkan segala curahan hatinya dan tak mampu berbuat apa-apa. I only said everything will be alright Stephen.
Then, he smiled as he spoke his heart out to me and said, “ Thank you for listening, Sarah. I am feeling okay now.”
“Jia You, Stephen.” Mengepalkan tangan keatas memberikan semangat.
“Jia You, Ayo semangat. Xie Xie, Sarah.” Senyum semakin merekah di wajahnya.
Cuplikan kisah ini mengingatkan bahwa sometimes all I can do for someone is lending my ears attentively. It does help a lot.
Dear me, everyone I meet is fighting a battle. Be kind always!
“Sometimes all a person wants is an empathetic ear; all he or she needs is to talk it out. Just offering a listening ear and an understanding heart for his or her suffering can be a big comfort.”
― Roy T. Bennett
