An essential characteristic of wellness is to have a sense of being worthwhile, of being valuable and being seen. When I came across the word Sawubona , a Zulu greeting used in South Africa, it touched my heart. The joy of being seen is indescribable. So I decided to write about what it means to me.
Sawubona: All my attention is with you. I see you and I allow myself to discover your needs, to see your fears, to identify your mistakes and accept them. I accept you for what you are, and you are part of me.
Sawubona – is a word that reminds us to trust one another.
It is a healthy reminder to see the other person as they are and pay attention to them. We authentically understand them and see their needs, desires, fears, sorrows, and virtues. It is enriching to make another person feel seen and give them a space to be hard. I felt that way when I experienced the difference the greeting made to me. It was more than a greeting. People have told me how they feel enlightened by a gesture communicating how important they are to the other.
There’s an immense beauty in the visibility engendered.
There’s something healing and even cathartic about sawubona that can serve as inspiration in our daily lives. Sawubona reminds us to be aware of other people’s needs and to give importance to individuals within a group. It also helps us think about integrating ourselves into our communities and valuing them. It sees the pride and struggles of people who are often not seen.
