Not Everyone Is Sweet, and That’s Okay

[Aashika Subedi]

A month ago, I stepped into something completely new with the ARC Project. We had to conduct a community survey in two places, and honestly, I was nervous but also excited. I thought it would be easy because I believed people in the community would be sweet, welcoming, and happy to talk with us since we were doing it for them.
But reality was different. Not everyone welcomed us the way I imagined. Some people were warm at first but later got irritated. Some looked arrogant in the beginning but turned out to be surprisingly kind once they shared their thoughts. That really made me realize one thing—not everyone is sweet, and that’s okay.
Another thing I noticed was that not everyone wants to listen to us either. Sometimes, people just want to speak out their pain, their frustrations, their problems, and even their anger toward leaders and the system. And in those moments, I understood that my role wasn’t to correct them or bring them back to the “survey questions” but simply to listen.
I also learned that we usually hear what we want to hear, not what people are actually saying. But when I started listening beyond my assumptions, I could really understand what they meant, even if it came with frustration, anger, or sadness.
This journey wasn’t always easy, but it taught me patience, calmness, and the importance of listening. Communities are not what we imagine from the outside they’re full of different emotions, struggles, and stories. And through this, I didn’t just learn about the community, I also learned about myself.

At the end of the day, every person has their own struggles, and sometimes the best thing we can do is simply listen.

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Your reflection on listening is spot on! Thanks Aashika:-)

[Binod Neupane]

Dear Aashika ji, I love the way how you've naturally and beautifully expressed your experience. I would love to read and hear more as you continue on this beautiful social work journey. My very best wishes :)