Just for a
moment, I’d like you to read this and then shut your eyes and answer it. Ready?
Here we go . . .
Think back to a
time when someone said or did something hurtful to you . . . Shut your eyes and think about that for a
moment.
Chances are, you
thought of the person who said or did it, the time and place where it occurred,
and the exact or nearly the exact words or actions that were used. Some of you might even picture the time of
day and what the weather was like.
For some of you,
this took place years ago, but you remember as if it were yesterday.
How powerful
words and actions are!
For me, it was
early in the sixth grade. We were on the
playground and a group of my friends were standing around talking and as I
approached them, one or two drifted away.
Three turned to me and one said, “I’m having some friends over and
you’re not invited.” He and the other
two friends turned and walked away . . . laughing. Yes, they laughed.
For the life of
me, I can’t tell you why. I can’t tell
you what I had done or said. I can’t
even tell you what I didn’t do or didn’t say.
I was stunned. These were my
friends. Guys I hung out with. I had always done things with them. Always.
I was one of them. But now, I was
excluded. I didn’t know why and to this
day, still don’t know why. But I can
tell you that I was hurt deeply.
Now, I want you
to read the next statement and then shut your eyes and answer it. Ready?
Here we go . . .
Think back to a
time when someone said or did something to you that made you feel so good . . .
Shut your eyes and think about that for a moment.
Once again,
chances are you thought of the person who said or did it, the time and place
where it occurred, and the exact or nearly the exact words or actions that were
used. Some of you might even picture the
time of day and what the weather was like.
And like the
hurtful words or actions, perhaps, it occurred years ago, but you remember as
if it were yesterday.
There were so
many kind words and actions given to me over the years, that I’m having trouble
choosing just one. In fact, it was far
easier to remember the hurtful words and actions than the more pleasant memory.
Interesting how
that happens, isn’t it?
We might
remember the negative far easier, and perhaps far longer, than we recall the
positive.
I think we need
to remember, especially those in positions of authority, that our words and our
actions mean something. They have an
impact- either positive or negative. And
sometimes the negative outlasts the positive.
Scary, really.
So my charge to
you this day . . . my charge to you every day . . . is to
choose your words and actions carefully and wisely. We might not ever know what impact we might
have on whom. Further, I ask that you Be
That One that makes a positive impact in what you say and in what you do. Life is so short. We need to help and not hurt. We need to build up and not tear down. Please, Be That One! Something to think about . . .
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
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Thank you for your comment. I welcome your thought. Joe