Every Crack and Crevice

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People say you know all of them. That you know every secret and condition, every follower, every expedition. But we don’t. It’s impossible to know someone fully and completely. Every crack and crevice. How they take their coffee, what they sing in the shower, do they crack their knuckles or not. These are little things that make the illusion of the closest form of companionship. And knowing these little things make you happy, as if you notice things other people don’t. Yes, we know these things, but there are still secrets being kept, lies being spread, things they do in the secret of their bedroom. I know everything about this person, they think proudly, not even for a second doubting the whole relationship with the friend, companion, or even your spouse. But let me ask you this, have you lived in their minds, acted as they have acted, or dealt with what they have dealt with? If not, then you do not truly know them. I am not blaming you or trying to put blame on you, I am just trying to persuade you to see it in a new light. Never will we know anyone fully and completely, not even ourselves. The human mind is the most complex thing in the world, that even the man inhabiting it cannot know all its abilities and struggles. Next time you catch yourself thinking that you know a person entirely, step back, view the person of which you were thinking, and accept that no, you do not. Now relearn the person. Notice new things about them. Ask questions people will not think to ask. Ask questions you yourself did not think to ask. They will be surprised and delighted to share a brand-new piece of information of themselves. This will deepen the relationship and expand the trust they feel in you. No, you still do not know them completely or entirely, nor will you ever, but now you know them more. Keep this in mind, while you could never know someone fully, you can always know someone more.