So I just got done having an impromptu heart-to-heart with my sister.
It's amazing how much I actually learn from these chats. I mean, do you really listen to what people say to you? If we did, the world would be 100x more productive.
People will hear what you say, but they don't always listen. Some would say it is "selective hearing", and I believe that. When you take the time to listen to words and roll them around your mind, you start to gain perspective.
One topic came up and it was about social norms, about how people are expected to say certain things at certain times. Words can make someone feel put-out, or just that much happier. Take, for instance, if you were invited to dinner at someone's house and they ask you how it was. And you could say "Pretty good" in a flat monotone, or you could respond earnestly with "I really loved it, it was great!". I find that sometimes I fall into the dull responses category, but not even on purpose. I say "pretty" and "kinda" before many of the replies I give, and I realize that it makes things sound uncertain. That kind of tone can hurt another's feelings. Although I do not mean any harm by it, another person will not know that. So the point of this was to emphasize the importance of diction, of tone. It's not what you say (although that's important too) but mainly HOW you say it.
Words can be sharper than knives!
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