On Living in Tight Compartments…

There are some who seem to pride themselves on being self-contained, on withholding their ideas and experiences form others. Up to a point, this may be evidence of an admirable self-reliance. But most things in life are enjoyed as they are shared.

Consider, for example, the common, and often humorously referred to occurrence, of people’s telling about their operations. Even that dubious enjoyment isn’t what it might be unless there is someone else to tell it to. Trips take are more enjoyed, first if there are others along, and second, if there is someone else to tell about them after they are over. Perhaps this explains in pare the pictures we bring back and insist on showing—even at the risk, sometimes, of being a bit boring. Life is much more satisfying with something’s shared.

Sometimes husbands and wives live too much within themselves, not sharing enough with each other their thoughts, their hopes, their heartfelt feelings, and things encountered during the day—not enough opening up, too much of living in tight compartments.

Sometimes children live in tight compartments and too closely keep their confidences from parents. (And sometimes parents are at fault in seeming to be too busy to listen!) Mothers, fathers and children are missing something precious and essential it they don’t share sincerely with each other something of the circle in which they live their separate lives.

There is strength and safety in sharing—even in sharing fears and troubles when there is need of it. Part of living consists of learning to be a good listener, and part consists of giving out of entering into, of sharing ourselves. And refraining from confidences with those we love and live with is not a very rewarding way of life.

It is trite to say, but it is true: that in sharing we receive, that in giving we get. And for a daughter of a son to come home of an evening and to tell his parents of a pleasant time makes the experience not only his again—but others’ also.