First blog-Let’s give this a whirl, shall we???

Ok. I will admit I am a little intimidated. There are waaaay too many tools on the side of my screen. I just simply want to put words down. I am not ignorant, nor unintelligent. I just prefer simple. Simple is good. Simple is routine. Simple is easy.

I feel that this first blog should be a disclaimer. I have diarrhea of the fingers. I type frantically (and usually horribly), attempting to get all the thoughts in my head out. They crowd me. My head is usually full of nonsense. There are too many ideas bumping around.   I have to get them out. However, I like to think that I am careful when it comes to SPEAKING my thoughts. I try to be honest and forthright so there is no misunderstanding my thought processes. Sometimes, I am honest and blunt to a fault, but not to be mean, disrespectful or hateful or hurtful with my speaking words. Verbal communication is a dangerous thing, my friends. In the heat of an emotional moment, words can be let loose with fury and vengance-some of which can NEVER be taken back. But with writing, the author can proofread and self-censor and contemplate and overthink and totally change her original thoughts into something completely different. I am going to find that balance here, Dear Readers. I will say what’s on my mind, with a certain degree of respect, but I refuse to apologize for my feelings and thoughts. If you think for one second that your feelings may be hurt, or offended when I drop an F-bomb (because I can swear like a drunken sailor)- then you need to STOP reading right now. Seriously. This is MINE. My thoughts. My feelings. I can deal with constructive criticism, feedback and am completely open to different points of view. But do it with respect and I will do the same.

I truly believe that our modern society does not think about the power of spoken words. There are certain groups that certainly OVERTHINK verbal communication (politicians, televangelists, everyone in infomercials)- but the majority of people, and I certainly include myself in this, don’t have a clue how an offhand comment can affect a person. Both in good and negative ways.

I’m in my bathroom, primping for a night out with the girls, and my then 4 year old son is watching me intently. I’m spraying, powdering, buffing, shaving, lotioning, curling, and blotting for all I am worth. I look GOOD, dammit. I’m feeling good. I’m gonna go out, dance until my feet hurt, throw back some adult beverages, flirt with some people, just have a fun grown up night. I’m all finished, looking in the mirror for the final review before leaving my boys, and Brady (the then 4 year old) says, “Mommy! You don’t look fat tonight!”. He says this with his beautiful smile, and sparkles in his eyes. I KNOW that is his little mind he thinks “Mommy looks pretty!!!”- but his words give the compliment (?) a whole different twist. I vividly remember standing there, stunned for a moment, and looking down from killer heels into his little shining face. My heart KNEW what he meant. He’s 4. He’s a boy. He’s always going to have trouble expressing his thoughts, because, let’s face it, he’s a male human child. I bent over, kissed his little face and told him “Thank YOU!!!”.

The point I am trying to make with this- and I do have one- is that unless you are a 4 year old boy child, STOP and think what your words can do. I’m not going to point out any examples of this in grown up life, because each and every person on the planet has experience with this concept. Whether it was you who spoke before thinking, or if you were the recipient of someone’s diarrhea of the mouth- just take 2 seconds to think.

That is all for now.