Little words






Little words ...
People remember how you make them feel.
I'm sitting in a coffee shop waiting on the movers to clear out our Atlanta office. We're going virtual—very hip, I think.
I'm surrounded 100% by young college students. I'm in the zone—the Georgia State University zone. I love it most days, except when students start blocking the streets like cattle heading for their morning feed.
Thankfully, I beat the onslaught of students to order my Shot-in-the-Dark. I pick up my coffee and nestle in with electronics while I wait on the movers to arrive. Sitting next to me is a couple of students, who seem to be related, engaged in conversation. The girl is cute and perky. She laughs a little as she bemoans, "I would go see Mamaw more often if she didn't keep calling me fat."
Seriously, Mamaw? You think your granddaughter is fat?
From where I sit, granddaughter has a little reserve but not what I would call fat. Admittedly, my perspective is different now that I have a little reserve.
In spite of Mamaw's judgment, granddaughter is lively, and she has spitfire in her eyes. She apparently deflects overexposure to put-downs. Two points for granddaughter.
I wonder how many visits Mamaw misses because her words keep granddaughter at bay.
People remember how you make them feel. Especially teenage girls.
"They may forget what you said—but they will never forget how you made them feel."~Carl W. Buehner
Teenage girls remember how you make them feel—they remember to infinity and back. And, I seriously doubt they may forget what you said, particularly if it includes the word "fat."
Mamaw, if you want more visits, the ball's in your court.
I remember a young mother telling me the number one thing she wanted for her child is a good self-esteem. At the time, I thought this was a curious goal. Now I know, she was spot on.
What words help you feel valued? Loved?
Beyond the words, "I love you," some of the nicest words spoken to me are, "That's okay." I often make mistakes, and I'm grateful beyond measure when I hear "That's okay—not to worry." The most gracious people speak these words. I dented my husband's truck one, umm two times—ugggh! Both times, he said, "That's okay, we'll get it fixed." That's pretty doggone gracious!
People remember how you make them feel.
~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran
[LowTide is an eclectic collection of discoveries and reflective writings.]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"War of the rubies ..."

Image
LowTide Morning - August 25, 2018 "War of the rubies ..." On my deck, a cherry tomato is climbing, clinging to life inside a wire cage. The vine looks like sin, but the hummingbirds love perching on the top of the cage as if they are king of the hill. Male hummingbirds are aggressive and territorial. I wonder, do birds have testosterone? I have a couple of ruby-throated hummers going at it in my backyard. "Your mama..." "I know you are, but what am I?" The fight is on. They dart, dive, twist, and smack talk. I just refilled the feeder yesterday. There is plenty of nectar for all. For now. But they don't understand that there is an endless supply. I suppose they fight for what they fear is expendable. I was about to say there is no need for all this fighting. But who knows what tomorrow will hold; I might forget to refill the feeder. Yes, that has been known to happen. Don't judge. Just as children fighting for love and attention, hummers don't ...
Read more

PIECES OF A PUZZLE

Image
January 31, 2016 Ann Crammond, second executive director of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, was looking forward to a post-retirement trip to the Antarctica. The trip was scheduled one year after her 11 year tenure as executive director. She was an avid horticulturist featured on Atlanta's WXIA TV "Noonday Gardener." In her lighthearted style, she quipped that she was looking forward to the Antarctica because, "No one would ask her to identify any plants." Understood. There are thousands of plants in cultivation and exponentially more in the wild. Gardeners are prone to share bits and pieces of a plant hoping for a positive ID. Horticulturists can be like a dog with a bone if they cannot immediately provide an answer. Plant keys are an old tried-and-true method, but slow and laborious. Today, one of my favorite gardeners presented a lovely clipping of a shrub neither of us could name. Next came an internet search for a plant key. In the process, I found an intrigu...
Read more