Well, now…….
I’ve noticed a new phrase in my vocabulary over the past few months, “Well, now…..”. It’s a polite way of saying that I don’t believe what you just said is true.
Previously, I wouldn’t interact for fear of being too controversial or sounding confrontational. I never wanted to be perceived as a “know-it-all” that has to enter every conversation interjecting their own personal viewpoint.
A few months ago I went to a lecture where the theme was that we need to “speak up”. In view of the recent #metoo postings on the internet, it may be a new era where we do speak up about injustices and to correct “fake news” when it is repeated. “Speaking up” doesn’t have to be mean-spirited, we used to care that what we heard and repeated was the truth.
We are very reluctant to ever say “I don’t know” in response to a situation or discussion. Instead we rely on information from the internet which almost always is slanted, or in some cases downright wrong.
Our need and longing to be heard outweighs our desire to be correct and truthful.
I think I’ll use a “Well, now….” only occasionally and when it is a subject with which I have personal knowledge. I’m going to incorporate more “I don’t know” phrases into my daily routine. Quite frankly, I have a very limited knowledge of the world and can always learn more by listening rather than talking.
Blessings, my friend,
Agatha