The Quiet Power of Listening

 When I spoke with this woman, it wasn’t just a conversation; it felt like a window into a world held together by strength, silence, and resilience. Her eyes-like a glass of green waves-told stories her words hadn’t yet reached. Calm, deep, and full of unspoken memories.

We talked about many things: immigration life, belonging, and family. But two moments from our conversation have stayed with me ever since.

The first was when she spoke about friendship. A certain sadness lingered in her voice, and in her eyes.

She’s lived here for fifteen years, yet she hasn’t found that one friend; the kind that goes beyond small talk, beyond polite gatherings, beyond the comfort of familiarity.

In her words:

"My kids have friends, and we’re friends with their parents, but I am yet to make that kind of friend. I still keep in touch with my friends back home."

 There was a soft ache in her tone. The kind of ache that comes from being surrounded by people but still feeling unseen. It was a feeling many immigrants know too well, the quiet isolation that follows even in the busiest rooms.

The second moment came unexpectedly.

She paused, looked down for a moment, then said softly,

"I am Russian, and I feel people label me because of the current war going on. There are no winners, you know"

Her words hit me deeply. It was a hint that behind every accent, every nationality, and every news headline, there’s a human being; someone simply trying to live, connect, and be seen for who they truly are.

That conversation reminded me that empathy is not always about grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s as simple as truly listening; without judgment, without assumption.

Listening enough to hear the story behind the silence.

Listening enough to see the person, not the label.

And perhaps, that’s where human connection begins.

Stories like hers remind us why Her Immigrant Tales exists, to create spaces where immigrant women can share, connect, and be understood.

In a world that often rushes to label, listening becomes an act of courage.

Because when we truly listen, we don’t just hear stories - we begin to heal them.