Among writers, if you don't have a therapist, it's like saying you don't keep a journal or use the thesaurus. It's a natural accompaniment.
Amy TanRead
I had always assumed we had an unspoken understanding about these things: that she didn't really mean I was a failure, and I really meant I would try to respect her opinions more. But listening to Auntie Lin tonight reminds me once agian: My mother and I never really understood one another. We translated each other's meanings and I seemed to hear less than what was said, while my mother heard more. No doubt she told Auntie Lin I was going back to school to get a doctorate.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Communication between loved ones can often be misunderstood, leading to misconceptions about each other's intentions.
This quote reflects the complexities of communication within intimate relationships. It highlights how assumptions can obscure understanding, suggesting that even when there is a strong emotional bond, individuals may interpret each other's words and intentions differently. The speaker realizes that despite their close relationship with their mother, there remain significant gaps in understanding that can lead to feelings of inadequacy or misinterpretation.
Themes
CommunicationUnderstandingRelationshipsMisunderstandingFamily
In practice
Example use cases
During a family gathering where misunderstandings are common, this quote can be shared to emphasize the importance of open communication.
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Even if I had expected it, even if I had known what I was going to do with my life, it would have knocked the wind out of me. When something that violent hits you, you can't help but lose your balance and fall. And after you pick yourself up, you realize you can't trust anybody to save you- not your husband, not your mother, not God. So what can you do to stop yourself from tilting and falling all over again?
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And for all those years, we never talked about the disaster at the recital or my terrible accusations afterward at the piano bench. All that remained unchecked, like a betrayal that was now unbreakable. So I never found a way to ask her why she had hoped something so large that failure was inevitable. And even worse, I never asked her what frightened me the most: Why had she given up hope?
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