"There are two people in every photograph: the photographer and the viewer".

Good morning everyone and welcome to a brand new Today.

The famous American photographer, Ansel Adams, once wrote, "There are two people in every photograph: the photographer and the viewer".

Meaning that every time a photograph is taken and shown it becomes more than about you the photographer who took it and more than about you the person viewing it.

It becomes about both of you, it's shared by you.

I believe that this same idea can be used in instances when we're hurt by another person.

Try this; "There are two people in every painful situation: the person thought to be hurt and the person thought to be doing the hurting".

If we cease looking at the situation as just one person being hurt and see that there is another person in this situation, that it's not just about us the individual but about us the two people in this situation, then we're better able to work to understand that other person.

Why are they hurting you?

What are they going through to feel they have to hurt you?

Was their intention to hurt you? Are they themselves hurting?

Have we done something to hurt them and they're responding to that?

We can step outside of it being solely about us and extend our kindness, compassion and understanding to the other person.

Doing this reduces the pain we feel and offers a chance to work with that other person.

We may even find that by doing this we aren't hurt at all, but are instead concerning ourselves with the well being of the other person, wholly and completely.

So if you find yourself in a hurtful situation try to remember; There are two people in every painful situation: the person thought to be hurt and the person thought to be doing the hurting.

Be well my friends, and have a meaningful Today.

-Levi Moore

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