we are used to empty praise and making things about us. I've seen this scene many times: a child creates something and an adult says "it's beautiful, I really liked it", without really paying attention to the creation and the child. and that's how we relate. We don't go out of our comfort zone to really pay attention to other people's creations, to really let ourselves be touched by them. and we don't go out of our comfort zone to tell someone how that affects us instead of making it about us or someone else who needs to be validated and recognized.

for me it is hard because I'm always afraid of saying things that doesn't really matter. but that fear comes from that dynamic, I guess. and your comment invited me to say something and think about my own behavior.