Being Seen — Sawubona

The Zulu greeting Sawubona has been in my thoughts. I knew of it when I lived in South Africa, but I only learned its meaning years after my return home.

“I see you” was the original translation I heard of Sawubona. A common translation of the response was “I am seen.” I recently learned a second translation: “We see you.” The response is Yebo, Sawubona: “Yes, we see you, too.”

We? A short video by Orland Bishop explains that “we” includes me, my ancestors, my spiritual self — a multitude of complexity that I embody when I see you and prepare to talk with you. When you respond that you see me, too, you are seeing that complex version of me through a filter of your complexity. Bishop says,

“Seeing is a dialogue. … It is an invitation to participate in each other’s life.”

What a gift to see someone in their entirety, and to do so from within your awareness of the fullness of yourself! Our human complexity is all too often reduced to a label, which then leads to an assumption of what that label means.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you learn someone works in Information Technology or Human Resources? Beyond our personal interactions, we experience an overlay of TV shows, movies, cartoon characters that expand upon a nugget of truth by amplifying it into the realm of humor. Those stereotypes become labels, and they tend to stick and influence how we see each other.

This also holds true outside the work environment, especially so in these times of polarized and fractured communication. We see each other through the lens of our political beliefs, where we live, what we do for a living. Can we move beyond this limited lens and see each other in our totality? Absolutely — and it starts with curiosity.

Curiosity helps us see the uniqueness of each other while understanding our common bonds. It helps us gain a deep understanding, enabling us to see underneath the surface to what is coloring the words being spoken.

To me, the totality of who I am includes a blend of my greatest successes and biggest disappointments, experiences from my childhood through to today, my hopes and aspirations for the future. They are all present with me when I am in conversation with another, and I look for the same with them.

We see you. Who is the you who sees me?

The intent of the Random Conversations blog is to inspire deep, meaningful, glorious conversation — delicious conversations. Interested in reading more? cathyjoseph.co