Courtesy: The Space Between Souls

Abstract

This paper presents an illustrative dissection of the virtuous power of courtesy. The content, herein, examines the mutual space between individual souls created through courtesy, utilizing Robert Sardello’s (2003) definition of “courtesy” as a virtue. True acts of courtesy surpass commonly understood actions and niceties, in which the purpose is to invite one’s soul into a mutual space of acknowledgment with the soul of another. It is only out of this recognition that the soul remembers its common and worldly origin. Ego processing dictates so much of our daily interactions that the presence of soul connection is most certainly never brought to the forefront of our awareness. Courtesy, which leads to connected moments of existence, can most likely be achieved by ignoring categorization of appearance, as well as maintaining a perception of soul-being. Those who act with virtuous courtesy are lead blindly by the heart, quieting the commentary of the mind. Acts of virtuous courtesy can be seen in the profession of hospice care, as a unifying theme in Star Wars, as well as in the prominent work of Mother Theresa. As the nature of the individual soul cannot be expressed in solitude, the relationship between client and therapist most closely represents the process of creating a shared space for one’s soul to enunciate its existence.