Make room for a different experience
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
At the next workshop, Hana noticed that Tomas looked dejected after learning that his submission had not been selected. He became despondent while discussing it, saying that the decision seemed to show there was no point in trying another venue. Hana tried to respond with empathy instead of comparing his disappointment with her own good news. She listened to what the essay meant to him and asked whether he wanted to discuss the editor's note or simply take a break from the subject.
Tomas remained dejected, and Hana did not expect a brief conversation to remove the disappointment. Her empathy helped her recognize that an immediate celebration of her own acceptance would not fit what he wanted to discuss. When he sounded despondent about every future attempt, she separated the particular rejection from the broader conclusion he was drawing and offered to read the note with him later. He chose to leave the essay aside for the evening and return to that question when he felt ready.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.