I think that it depends. People have an idea of where they want the conversation to go ("I want to talk about my rough breakup") and you should not steer it too hard ("No let's talk about my funny breakup story").
Sometimes people want validation in numbers and it's fine to relate. "Ha! I've been there too. My kid did the same last week. Children am I right?"
Sometimes they want to process something by talking about it and you should let it happen. "Oh man that must suck. How did it play out?"
Besides, relating can feel like one-upping. For example someone tells you about their trip to Paris and you mention how you've stopped there on your unicycle trip around the world. Oh well guess their trip is nothing to celebrate then. Use your experience to relate to their feelings, not to diminish them.
Usually, you can relate while keeping your anecdote to yourself. "Oh it's a beautiful city isn't it? How did you like it?"
Just wanted to mention here, though it may not be the most subject-appropriate place, that i'm fascinated by your website (allaboutBerlin) and wanted to ask you a couple of questions about it.
The contact section on your site emphatically states that you're on vacation and not answering emails, so I have to ask, would you mind if I contact you briefly by some means that works for you, at a time/date that you find convenient? I promise to be brief and not to release a flood of correspondence verbiage. Also, in case I might be giving the impression, this is not a sales pitch of any kind. Thanks!
Sometimes people want validation in numbers and it's fine to relate. "Ha! I've been there too. My kid did the same last week. Children am I right?"
Sometimes they want to process something by talking about it and you should let it happen. "Oh man that must suck. How did it play out?"
Besides, relating can feel like one-upping. For example someone tells you about their trip to Paris and you mention how you've stopped there on your unicycle trip around the world. Oh well guess their trip is nothing to celebrate then. Use your experience to relate to their feelings, not to diminish them.
Usually, you can relate while keeping your anecdote to yourself. "Oh it's a beautiful city isn't it? How did you like it?"