Language is never innocent Day 100!

Master Leunig

So yesterday, I met with my old employees following my resignation a year ago. The meeting was positive and I sensed we both were as honest as we could be. Now we retreat, reflect and decide where to next.

If something comes of the meeting, grand. If not, grand. Either way, I’ll be clearer on my next move.

I feel both parties could have said more. Would that have been helpful? I don’t know. I hear a lot of people almost demanding to have the opportunity to speak their mind, to be honest and state their feelings. Sometimes I honestly think it’s better that we don’t. Certainly not all of them. I know my ideas, feelings, interpretations of life change daily, often multiple times a day. I don’t feel we have to share every thought and emotion coursing through our body. I think that could be a disaster for many relationships and from what I’ve seen and heard, it often is. For me, it’s about learning the art of discernment to choose and apply our language, in the service of the greater good. How to best serve ‘The Republic’ as the ancient Greeks would say. I think I’m getting better but I still screw up most days.

I don’t know to be honest. The older I get, the less certain I am about most things. The more I tend to hold things lightly these days – ideas, opinions, thoughts and people. Parenting and relationships are a marvellous environment to consistently learn (and fail) about life. Those settings allow me to stumble, reflect, forgive, seek forgiveness, create, play and ultimately learn. My God, I never seem to stop learning!

Oh, to be flawed and human. I’ll continue to choose my language carefully and take responsibility for the things I say and don’t say. Particularly, language that will likely cause hurt for others.

Joyous stumbling peoples.

Boozebrain