I refer to the people, not to the furniture.

Although spending time together in workshops takes away workdays, there is comfort in the camaraderie and learning from the sharing of experiences and insights.  Gina Hechanova, another of our highly-respected colleagues from the Psychology Department, was trying to teach us what it meant to listen empathically, that is, without judgment, without trying to problem-solve, or soothe.  Empathic listening had to do with reflecting what the speaker was saying or feeling.

She threw an example at the audience, "What would you do if someone said..." One of the other chairs immediately began problem-solving.  The subsequent converation between him and Gina went something like this:

"You're problem-solving already! We're trying to practice empathic listening!"

"We problem-solve because we don't have time to empathize!"

"But how long will it take to say, 'You must be upset...'? What was that, ten seconds?"

"Yes, but once you say that, then she'll talk some more!"

<After a deep breath> "One of the tenents of empathic listening is that you should be willing to take the time to listen...!"

It was so funny!

***

During Emy's talk, she was talking about coping with stress.  She said, "When you're really angry with someone, instead of kicking the person, you can kick the chair."

We all broke out laughing.