Posts by Pat:
Difference of opinion?
Want to diffuse a heated discussion? Here are four words that are easy, not fancy, that you can use to shift the conversation:
“You might be right.”
This can accomplish a number of things:
- It admits that maybe they are right. You do make mistakes. Maybe you did something wrong. Maybe you don’t know everything you might need to know about the topic. Do you wish they hadn’t brought it up? Sure, but just because they may be a jerk doesn’t mean they are wrong.
- It can end the conversation right there.
- And you don’t have to carry it around all day.
It’s over. You’re done. They might be right. Maybe they’re not…but you didn’t say “You are right.” You said “You might be right.”
After all, there is really nothing more important than our peace of mind. How we are feeling and what we are thinking throughout the day is what really matters, where our energy is flowing. Protecting our mental state is our goal, not having to be seen as “right.”
We can always just be quiet on the matter. This will get us quickly to the end of that topic and we can then change the subject to something better to discuss.
We can always say “I never thought about it that way” as a soft response that doesn’t encourage argument.
We are not trying to change, reform, improve, or fix them. We are not trying to prove them wrong.
When we meet the inevitable challenging person on our path, we don’t need to meet them as an adversary, but rather as a possible teacher.
By pushing our buttons, by blocking our path, they can help us (unwittingly!) discover thoughts in our minds or feelings in our hearts that we may not have been aware of. And once we become aware, we can choose to change them or not.
So, do you agree or not? What are your thoughts?
After all, you might be right!
It’s up to me?
There’s merit even in such a misattributed quote as this one that’s often attributed to Saint Francis. I know in my heart that each of us serves as a role model for someone…a child, a friend, a stranger. We all look to others for guidance when we are confused or worried. One song can spark […]
How can I shift?
As I’ve gotten older (and maybe somewhat wiser), I’m shifting what I tell myself… a bit away from just being productive and more towards creativity. Here’s what I can tell myself: Rather than complaining and saying “Look at everything on my list!” I can ask myself “What can I remove from my list (or just […]
2 days free from worry!
There are two days in every week that we don’t have to worry, two days which we can easily keep free from fear or apprehension. And it isn’t one of these! One of these days is YESTERDAY with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. YESTERDAY has passed forever beyond […]
Your “yellow light” policy?
A number of years ago when I was riding as a passenger with my middle sister, the traffic light went from green to yellow. She gunned the engine and I let out a yelp. To me, a yellow light meant slow down and prepare to stop. To her, a yellow light meant speed up and […]
Legend of the “Three Sisters”
If you are familiar with companion planting, you’ll likely have heard the legend of the Three Sisters garden. This is a traditional Native American method for growing food in a resourceful way. It’s been used for many hundreds of years and is based on the idea that each plant has something vital to offer the […]
Are we lazy or just efficient?
If you look inside a beehive you’ll notice row and row of almost identical hexagons. It could be because the hexagon is a robust structure, but there’s something more than that at play. Nature is always trying to use the least amount of energy. The Canadian Honey Council has calculated that the wax that is […]
Remember Mr. Rogers?
Are any of you old enough to remember the TV program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood? Or maybe the 2019 movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood with Tom Hanks? With each episode Mr. Rogers began by changing into one of his trademark cardigan sweaters and changing into his sneakers while singing the show’s theme song, “Won’t […]
“Mother, May I?”
Remember the childhood game of “Mother, May I?” When given an instruction by ‘mother’ we needed to remember to ask permission before taking those 2 giant steps forward. In addition to my being an ex-English teacher and this also being the month of May, I’ve found myself wondering about that word “may.” How does it […]
Oh no..a 2nd Mother Goose gem?!
Joe Scieszka did it again in his The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense! (This time with the rhyme of Old Mother Hubbard.) The English teacher in me loves this “re-verb” version! See what YOU can add to these verbs… Old Mother Hubbard moseyed/ progressed/ skipped/ highttailed it/ took a hike to […]