other person’s shoes” and therefore understand and
empathize with him or her. Empathy helps to
overcome anger and allows us to forgive mistakes.- I cannot make my relationship work because we are too
different.
The Story of Us (1999)
A man and woman meet, say their vows, have children, then
slowly grow apart. Now comes the hard part: staving off a
divorce. Rather than tell the children, they send them off to
summer camp and then begin a trial separation. Their attempts
at making a fresh start are interspersed with flashbacks to their
happier days. Eventually, with time apart, they learn how to
repair their life together.
Viewing Suggestion:Watch how Katie and Ben struggle
but eventually find a way to make their relationship work.
Notice especially their poor communication skills and their dif-
ferences in temperaments.
Exercise: Ask yourself whether you are able to
communicate better than Katie and Ben. If not, how
could you improve your communication?
Communicating well helps you to “step into your
partner’s shoes” and therefore understand and
empathize with him or her. Empathy helps to bridge
many difference in your personalities. - My relationships will never change for the better.
When Harry met Sally (1989)
Harry and Sally first meet on a cross-country road trip as both
are leaving school for New York to begin their careers. Both are
single, but clearly these two are not meant for each other —
they are as different as black and white. But they meet again at
the airport a few years later when she’s with a new boyfriend.
92 E-Motion Picture Magic