Everyone has a story--two ways to look at it

I was fortunate to be in a workshop where I heard two people say exactly the same phrase yet express two totally different beliefs. Here's the phrase:

Everyone has a story

Lady #1 uttered the phrase as she complained about her "no-good tenants" (she's a landlord) and said that she never listened to her tenants' sob stories about why the rent was late. "Everyone has a story" she coldly and bitterly stated.

Lady #2 told of a breakthrough she had with her ex-husband's new wife and how she learned of that lady's struggles and faith, which transformed their relationship from contentious to compassionate, "Everyone has a story," she said with a smile.

Same phrase, different meanings and different outcomes for the people who spoke it.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com