Once you have a relationship with someone it is hard to not see them. Once you look them in their eye and get to know their heart it is hard to not empathize with their pain.
When someone else’s pain becomes your pain that is when we have relationships that can change society. These are the kind of relationships where people begin to extend their families to people they might have only known for a few months.
If you can’t feel or see someone’s pain yet it is likely that relationship is not strong enough yet.
Here is a poem that captures this so beautifully (spanish version and then english translation right underneath as you read).
In Lak’ech
Tú eres mi otro yo.
You are my other me.
Si te hago daño a ti,
If I do harm to you.
Me hago daño a mi mismo.
I do harm to myself.
Si te amo y respeto.
If I love and respect you.
Me amo y respeto yo.
I love and respect myself.
-Luis Valdez
