Thinking before speaking is always a good idea.
The village blacksmith hired an enthusiastic new apprentice willing to work long, hard hours.
He instructed the boy, “When I take the horseshoe out of the fire, I’ll lay it on the anvil. When I nod my head, you hit it with the hammer.”
The apprentice did exactly as he was told, and now he’s the new village blacksmith.
That’s all I know of the story. I’m guessing the young man learned his lesson and lived to retire from blacksmithery.
Our habits, fed by our increasing device dependence, have made us lazy in both speech and writing. To prove the point, see how long it took you to ‘get’ the lesson.
Want to begin making a positive difference in your world?
Slow down. S l o w d o w n . . .
Recapture the lost art of active listening.
Think before you speak. Mentally listen to what you’re about to say. Say it in as precise a manner as you’re able.
Just sayin’.
© D. Dean Boone, August 2017