In the country where I was born, eleven official languages are spoken. Yep, not kidding! (I can speak two fluently.)
One of these languages, Zulu, has a splendid greeting: , which means literally: ‘I see you’.
Isn’t this just a magnificent way of recognition? Not just the stereotyped forms of greeting, like ‘How are you’ (and not really waiting for or interested in the answer), ‘Hey’ or ‘Good Day’, but actually a powerful acknowledgement hidden in one word.
And the Zulu response in this regard, is ‘Ngikhona’ – with the literal meaning of ‘I am here’. In this grateful response lies the awareness of: ‘Until you saw me, I didn’t exist. By recognizing me, you brought me into existence’.
It made me think. When my daughter passed away nearly six years ago, I couldn’t stand it when people asked me afterwards how I am. I wanted to yell at them: ‘How can you ask me something like that? Can’t you see it’s almost impossible to answer that question any more?’ The question echoed a hollowness to me.
I realize people mean well by asking these questions. But I also think we must put more thought in our general greetings - by waiting for a proper answer, and by being really interested in what the other person has to say.
There is a beautiful quote of Philip Toshio Sudo: ‘Speak directly from your heart to the heart of your listener, as if passing the flame of a candle.’
Sawubona – I see you, dear KindSpring friend.
Ngikhona – I am here, thank you for noticing me.
3645 Reads
- Posted by petroskryf
- Oct 21, 2016
- Comments (21)
Readers Comments
splain wrote: I see you. What a beautiful greeting. How often do we meet people and not see them.
mindyjourney wrote: Sawubona, my dear KS friend. I remember after father took his own life, i thought surely people must see the awful grief on my face...but even i, when i looked in mirror -- couldn't see. Such a lovely greeting and share...Nhikhona <3.
1sher wrote: Losing a family member is agonizing and we must all deal in our own time and our way - Agreed seeing/dealing with other people is nearly impossible - I felt that even sharing the name of my lost family was giving away a piece of him that O wanted tp keep a hold of~
1sher wrote: i see you
alisamom wrote: Sawubona, petroskryf, people mean well but most don't really know how to handle Grief. I know I don't. and I very much agree that people should put more thought into greetings and responses and take the time to listen! I will try to do that, than you for the reminder. Sending you hugs
Mish wrote: Tears in my eyes from the beauty of this, Petro.
DANCE wrote: how interesting and beautiful the way you explained and shared your thoughts
RoseMarie wrote: This is very eloquent thank you.
kjoyw wrote: Absolutely beautiful post! So right on and so thoughtfully written. Sawubona, dear Petro.
leoladyc728 wrote: so beautiful
