A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean", she said. "she doesn't know how to wash correctly perhaps she needs better laundry soap." Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.
About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?" The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Things are not always what they seem to be. Sadly, this is how rumors often get started. Once words are out there, it is very difficult to gather them all back.
The pen, the keyboard and language itself, is mightier than the sword. Words can be hurtful. Words can introduce fear and intimidation into a situation. That whole thing about sticks and stones breaking bones, but words are harmless is simply not true.
Words are dangerous. How do you handle it when harsh words and false accusations are leveled against you? My first reaction is to defend myself.
But I'm not so sure that's always the right way to respond?
How do you know when to speak up or when to shut up?
Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You
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