Words

Words……… it keeps striking me over and over again how important words are. I’m one of those people who reacts fast without much thought to what I say, and I ALWAYS manage to say the wrong thing! Trust me… I always do …. I’ve hurt many of my friends (who thank goodness have remained friends with me) by saying the first thing that popped into my head. The worst thing being that sometimes, I don’t even mean the things I say. (I know … I know… why say it then!)

I’ve read the famous email going around about the little boy who hammered nails into a fence for all the mean things he said, and took them out when he said he was sorry but found that the wounds remained. That’s true.. (the part where the wounds remain I mean)..if only I can remember that when I have to!!!!

Today I was at the receiving end of something like that. I know there was no conscious thought to hurt, but hurt it did. I happened to ask my boss whether I could take the laptop home, he said I could……… but to check with the others first giving me the (accurate?? acute??? cute??) impression that I could have it only if no one else in office wanted it first. What do you think that made me feel like? Significantly insignificant… that’s what!

So here’s a little note to myself…. think (at least try to) before you speak. You could be hurting someone needlessly.