THE POWER

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

Every day, we have an opportunity to teach someone something. These exchanges of knowledge do not have to be from a place of arrogance but from a place of benefit to those around us.


When we inform people by sharing our lived experiences and our perspectives and learning reciprocally from them, we make our world a more caring, connected place.


No two people experience the world through the same lens. While we all may be enduring the same storm, we indeed are not floating in the same boat.


Some of our boats are sturdy and well-prepared to navigate the tricky waters, while others are weather-worn and barely floating.


When we open up about the things that shaped us, like our pain, joy, uncertainty, and victories, we allow others to feel seen. We give each other permission not to have everything figured out.


Stories allow us to build bridges across differences and find unexpected common ground.


It is not always about having the correct answer or the best advice. More often, it is about showing up with empathy and a willingness to listen, to speak truth with gentleness, and to honor the dignity of someone else’s experience.


In a world that too often rewards performance over authenticity, being authentic is an act of courage.

Teaching and learning, then, become less about power and more about presence. We learn with each other, not over each other.


We teach not to elevate ourselves but to invite others into something more significant: connection, understanding, and growth.


So today, if you have the chance to tell your story, do it with honesty and grace. If someone offers you their story, receive it with care.


Every small exchange adds up. And if enough of us choose to share from a place of compassion, we might reshape the world, one conversation at a time.

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