This is an interview with an incredible human being, a woman whose story personifies the best of the human spirit: love, strength, resilience and the determination to find a way!
Lilias Ahmeira's refusal to accept the medical establishment's judgement on her severely autistic son, and her subsequent and continued insistence that he be treated, not as a category case, but as an individual human being, are a must-listen for anyone feeling overwhelmed in their life.
Lilias's story also shows us just how much we have to gain from a culture of listening. The answer is always in the details, if you're prepared to hear them, and involves, ultimately, our willingness to see underlying similarities between us, instead of superficial differences. That's where the magic resides, and it's always there, waiting for you to notice.
Last word to Lilias: "When someone tells me it can't be done, I say, Watch this space!"
Stories of Our Lives! - A reassessment.
Each of my interviews has led, in some way, to a shift in my perspective, and my talk with Lilias is no exception. Looking over my current list of published interviews, a number of things seem clear.
First, that my original idea - the one that started the whole project - has some merit to it: everyone (you, me, her, him, them) has an interesting story to tell, if you're prepared to listen!
Second, that judging people on a small amount of information is a fool's game because you cannot understand the nuances of someone's personality, the richness, complexity, trauma, joy of their past experiences based on a Facebook post, what paper they read, how they speak, how they vote, their gender, their colour, height, weight, handedness or what they think about Brexit.
Third, that listening to someone, with the attention off you, and fully on them (truly being present for them!) is one of the greatest things any of us can do for another person. It's something I have by no means mastered as yet, but I'm working on it!
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You can find all my Stories of Our Lives! interviews on my website: frankfoley.co.uk