Elizabeth Aquino recently posted about a conversation she overheard at the grocery store. The woman's comments were intended to be funny, but were offensive and ignorant, instead. Some might say we're getting too sensitive and everything is off limits these days and at risk of being considered politically incorrect. Not so much. What we say reflects what we think. What we say and think, matters, yes indeedy.
Conversely, I went into the bathroom at Target this morning and overheard a heartening exchange. A mom and her daughter (7? 8?) were at the sinks washing their hands. The mom said, "There's a boy at your school with special needs. He interacts with people differently. He will need a little extra patience and kindness."
I almost piped in and said, "Let me just take a moment to thank you for saying that. I have a son with special needs, blah, blah, blahty blah..."
But I didn't. That was not a mother that needed encouragement from me. She was already a team member.
I had just come home from Target when I got online and read Elizabeth's post. What we say and what we do ripples far beyond the people we think we're reaching. Beyond the ones we intend to reach. Beyond the ones we inadvertently reach. Beyond.
And far beyond that.
6 comments:
Love.
I'm working on this very thing. What I'm working on is learning to think differently about many things and learning to think think think before I blurt out something hurtful, to others and to my family.
I was raised in a house full of girls and we were often catty to each other. It manages to stick with us into adulthood. And even now that I'm old enough to know better I find myself blurting out something I wish I hadn't. So I'm still a work in progress. Thanks for the reminder, Carrie. I always love reading your thoughts. Hugs, Barb
Thank you for that, Carrie, and I really love B. Whittington's comment as well (I just plain LOVE fullsoulahead!)because I, too, have sisters and we hurt one another all the time through language and tiny, little sharp digs.
Absolutely words matter. Cheers to that mom in the bathroom. Both of them!
This is sooo true - our words are SO important... we really have NO idea....
I love that you didn't step in and say anything and I don't think it's an accident that you overheard that conversation.
I have to stop my blood pressure from rising when I hear someone call another person out and the response is, "Chill! It was just a joke!" or "It's not a big deal, why are you making it an issue?" 'just jokes' are harmful and, you're right, they reflect our inner beliefs. Keep fighting the good fight and we'll get there, one person at a time.
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