Caring is...

"The most powerful tool for building trust is caring for other people and their situations," observes John Graham, the author of Stick Your Neck Out — A Street-Smart Guide to Creating Change in Your Community and Beyond.

Graham offers some examples of what caring means...

"Caring is putting yourself in others' shoes as best you can, so you can more fully appreciate their feelings and needs....  Try this:  Think of a person who is opposing you on a problem — someone you find really hard to care for.  Ask yourself:  What would it be like to be her or him?  The next time you have to deal with that person, let those insights soften what you say and how you say it.

"Caring is minding all the little interactions.  Who you are with the convenience store clerk is who you are.  Try this:  The next time a telemarketer interrupts your dinner and you're tempted to give a rude response, consider that the caller may be a minimum-wage single mom or an overworked volunteer who has just had 15 people hang-up on her.  You can still say no, and you can still say 'Take me off your list', but spend another ten seconds to add a few kind words that will make the person's tough evening a little brighter.  Who knows what effect you might have?

"Caring is active, nonjudgmental listening.  Caring communications aren't just about you talking.  Think of a time, perhaps when you were feeling down, when someone really listened to you, not to tell you what was wrong with you, but just to listen.  What difference did that person's listening make for you?  Have you ever listened that way to somebody else?  What effect did it have?

"Caring is taking the time.  No matter how rushed you are, there's always something caring you can do, even if it's only in the tone of your voice."

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