When there's nothing to say

This happened to me today. Twice.

What do you do when someone tells you something that you just can't respond to adequately? They might be giving you some bad news about their family, or telling you about an impossibly frustrating situation in their life.

In times like this, often the only thing you can do is listen. You don't even have to tell them "everything is going to be okay". They already know that. All they need is someone to listen, someone who will be there for them now, and in the future.

Isn't it interesting that when we are having problems in our lives, it seems like we need help...but all we really need is to talk, and for someone to listen? I've never been to a psychologist, but I imagine that really they are just excellent at listening and observing. They let you talk, and walk you through your thought process to help you figure out what is really at the root of things.

It's harder than you'd think to have an honest conversation with yourself. That's why we need friends, diaries....and psychologists.