By Jackie Diy
One kind word can change someone’s entire day.
I totally agree with this quote although it may not be as easy to follow especially when we, too, are not having a very good day. By nature, people can be impulsive not because they want to harm others but because it is a rush of emotions that can trigger people to say things they didn’t really mean.
The practice of counting 1 to 10 is really advisable and it works wonders in many ways: First, we avoid getting ourselves into unnecessary arguments; or at least explaining why we had to say things. Second, we avoid hurting or offending someone. Third, we save ourselves a good amount of valuable time directing our attention to more positive things.
This is the first article that I am writing for this very new paper, Metro Van Independent News, and I would like to congratulate its publishers Steve and Luisa Marshall for taking on this huge responsibility in the name of community service.
It is an honor to be a part of the team.
In line with this maiden issue, I thought that I wanted to come up with a spectacular article, but come to think of it, every article should be spectacular! So yes, as they say, the first thing that comes to your mind is usually most descriptive of what you feel. I thought that I should title my column ‘How To Say It Right’ for a few reasons and one of them is that all throughout my management/administrative career, I have been approached by people for a number of important things and one of them is to re-phrase their words so that they did not come off too straightforward or worst, too offensive.
I always felt good about being asked not because I thought I was an authority on the subject as there are many people who are experts in this field, but because I always believed in thinking twice or getting another opinion. Whether I had the better words to say is sometimes not what really counts.
It is knowing that there is this one person who took the time to stop, think, and consult which by itself is an act of kindness. I would be asked to help with re-wording sentences, emails, letters, articles, etcetera, and I commend those who have chosen to ask.
I always stress the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day and given the toxic schedules that we have, we sometimes even do not sleep enough. So yes, let us use whatever hours are left of those 24 to do something positive and say things right because our words can influence a person more than we know.
When we practice caution with our words, we have better chances of not offending others or creating difficult situations. I always stress the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day and given the toxic schedules that we have, we sometimes even do not sleep enough. So yes, let us use whatever hours are left of those 24 to do something positive and say things right because our words can influence a person more than we know.
What we say can give others an idea about what we have in that grey matter between our ears but how we say things tell others about our hearts and the kind of person that we are. Profiles, social media, resumes, introductions — they all can be created to describe us and summarize our achievements, but once we speak, our very words will confirm the person that is behind our profile.
We all start from scratch. We all want to create a good foundation and we all dream of being successful. There are so many ingredients for success and through every step that we take we will have an opportunity to speak.
In every way, I would suggest the general rule: That we should always speak with respect. I have taught students from age three to seventy and the truth remains that we must always speak to the other with respect.
Speaking to a child, for example, is crucial, because whatever we say to them is absorbed and if our words are going to be an important part of their values and the very person that they will become, then we want these words to be positive and encouraging. Some people ask themselves what good they have done for the community and I would say that it does not have to be huge or phenomenal.
We only have to say one kind word to one person and if that kind word made a huge difference in that person’s life then we have touched mankind in a most lasting and inspiring way. Let us all be remembered for something that is priceless because this is what lives on. Let’s begin today.
