Say the Wrong Thing
Getting it "right" all the time is for suckers.
say the wrong thing make that joke raise that question let your mouth be faster than your brain sometimes God’s grace is sufficient for your stupidity stumble over your words trying to keep up in conversation be so earnest that you embarrass yourself on occasion leave that party behind and acknowledge that it wasn’t your best work express enough joy over something that you become a little annoying it’s better to be earnestly flawed than calculated and impressive we’re hardly ever that impressed by people we don’t know that well anyway go ahead and apologize for when your mouth moved faster than your brain tell the truth, but remember “brutal honesty” is a myth you can be honest or you can be brutal but you can’t fully be both don’t bleach your words before you publish either companies aren’t people and people aren’t companies you don’t have PR or a brand to maintain, so be free wear love and passion on your sleeve laugh in a way that’s unflattering in photographs speak about what you know and confess what you don’t agree to disagree, or just plain disagree don’t be quick to shut people out God’s not quick to do that either don’t we sing songs about how grateful we are for it? be flawed and sincere, let others do the same. it’s better to speak imperfectly than never speak because you can’t be perfect fail publicly, you’re doing better than people who never try keep your ears open twice as often as your mouth we get it right faster when we’re quick to listen and slow to speak i was once told I was a great conversationalist— i had hardly said a word let others talk shine the spotlight on someone and let them dance let the silence speak for itself dead air is a word that only applies to TV programs everywhere else, those spaces are called jazz, poetry— and “letting things breathe.” people need to be loved more than they need to be taught your perfection can’t stand in the way of your words being useful let compassion bleed through your tone rather than sanitation trimming your vocabulary try your hardest to get it right, but be okay with being wrong often people will still think you’re wrong anyhow God gets that in his complaint box constantly be misinterpreted a million different ways you knew what you meant anyhow don’t revel in being wrong refuse to settle for wading with hogs because the moon and sky are too high jump, climb, build a rocket try to touch the base of the heavens from the peak of Everest just make sure to bring snacks and bandages for when you slip let your lack of perfection free you to be wildly and recklessly good do your honest best to get it right when you can, just remember… getting it “right” all the time is for suckers.
"i was once told I was a great conversationalist—
i had hardly said a word"
This made me laugh. Good stuff! hope all is well for you!
Man, I love and needed this more than I can express!!!! Thanks for writing it.