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Quote by Rachel Naomi Remen

“I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the tissues, until I realized that passing a person a tissue may be just another way to shut them down, to take them out of their experience of sadness and grief. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there with them.”

Book:Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal, 10th Anniversary Edition

Work

Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal, 10th Anniversary Edition

This 10th anniversary edition features a compilation of stories that delve into the profound impact of sharing life experiences, fostering empathy, and strengthening human connections. more

Author

Rachel Naomi Remen

Rachel Naomi Remen (born February 8, 1938) is an American physician, author, and spiritual teacher. Surviving cancer as a child, she developed a unique perspective on healing and life meaning. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, she worked in conventional medicine before turning to holistic healing approaches. Her bestselling book "Kitchen Table Wisdom" (1994) shares touching stories from her medical practice and has inspired millions worldwide. Remen emphasizes the integration of body, mind, and spirit in healing, advocating for compassionate, patient-centered care that values listening and presence. more

“This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. it certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too timid to speak or did not know the answer. A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well intentioned words.”

People Knows Wells Young Speak Easy Simple Answers Silence Taught Listening Heal Simple Things

Author:Rachel Naomi Remen

“There are few master teachers in life. ... But there are many who can listen to life so well that they can hear the vastness in everything and in you. A teacher is someone who has learned to listen to life. Someone who has found a way to listen well. Any real teacher is only a finger pointing. In the end, we may find out more by not following our teachers but by following what our teachers follow for themselves. From a good teacher you may learn the secret of listening. You will never learn the secrets of life. You will have to listen for yourself.”