Listening is more helpful that speaking

Did you know that?  It doesn't matter what your role is in relation to another person, teacher, parent, law enforcement officer, child protective services worker, priest, doctor, lawyer or friend, its more important to listen than to speak. Like an iceberg, most of who people are is under the surface, hidden, perhaps, for good reason. The best gift you can give anyone is to let them tell you who they are.

...and if you are a writer,  your job is to see people as they really are.  ……in the most compassionate possible sense.