I have always been an admirer of children - even long before I had children. The opportunities to teach and, more importantly, learn from children are vast and beyond one's imagination. Recently my five-year-old grandson was trying to tell me something around the dinner table, and he repeatedly asked me, "Do you understand, papa?" I had not realized the intensity of his inquiries until my daughter prompted me to pay attention by saying, "Are you listening, dad?"

Speech is the mirror of the mind, as the above quote from Seneca (Roman philosopher and politician, 5 BC - 65 AD) states. Listening to people, taking their words into consideration and incorporating those words into one's own thinking are valuable exercises. Children have a unique way of expressing views honestly and without fear of retaliation. We should behave as children when it comes to listening and expressing honest views designed to improve our lives.

Listening to diverse expressions enriches our own thinking and our ability to see things more clearly. The next step is espousing diversity of views and opinion. This is a way of showing respect to each other and helping us refine our own thinking. Accepting diversity is founded on trust, and trust is built by getting to know a person. Knowing someone makes it easier to establish relationships and achieve goals.

Building trust is not limited to healthcare providers or our colleagues, and should include our patients, who have trusted their lives to our care. We can express our trust in a multitude of ways and each of us does so differently, provided it embraces the key attributes of respect and caring.