Walking in another person's shoes

There is a quote that I love from Harper Lee's classic," To Kill a Mockingbird."  In it, little Scout learns the meaning of empathy and acceptance when she was told, "•You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it."

We all know that no two people are alike.  And from there, many problems arise.
We all have our own beliefs, views, perceptions, values, philosophies of life; whatever.  Very often, as humans, we find it difficult to really see eye-to-eye over many issues. Man go to war over differences like these today.

Why is it so hard to walk in another man's shoes?
For one, it does not fit.  It does not feel right, nor does it seem right.
Yet if we make the effort and try, things may be a little different.

As a teacher, sometimes I think what it means to sit on the other side of the table.
From there, I learn about challenges , fears, frustrations and the need to have someone to keep believing in me.
I remind myself to have fun...for as I grow older, I seem to do that less and less.

As a mother, I remember what it was like being a giddy teen, wanting to make my mark in the world, or as the insecure teen who worries over friendship , and school, and self-image. Or as a tween...not an adult, and not so much a baby either, and not knowing when to behave as which.

As woman....hahah...shall I even discuss this?
Like a colleague once remarked to his male friend the other side, "Hey, can you please move back downstairs? There's too much estrogen talking in the room!" Hahaha.
Short of sparking off a gender war, I do make the effort to sense and reflect how men would feel and react (or is it the other way around?!)

But, walking in another person's shoes is an art by itself.
It is always very challenging. It is never easy.
If you want to do it, you really have to leave your mental, emotional and intellectual baggage behind.
And prepare yourself to embrace a whole new world sometimes...and it may not be something that you are ready for.

The art of walking in another person's shoes...seriously, means not using your head to rationalise things.
Because when you do that you are still measuring the other person by your own yardstick.
You cannot really question and shoot it down. You have to suspend beliefs and hold your tongue.

The art of doing so means;-
You have to FEEL like that person...to eat, breathe, think, react, communicate...in short, BE that other person for a while.
And when you finally SEE things through his eyes , sensations and experiences, hopefully , the understanding will come in.

So if there is any amongst you, who have attained such wisdom,
Teach me so I can learn.