I’ve not hesitated about pointing out the silly things people have said around me and how it hurst my feelings. In this emotional post almost a year ago, from my Lotsa Helping Hands site, I rambled about it.
Well, yesterday I was guilty of the same dumb thing.
I had just finished my CT scan. Sitting in a cozy chair, about to get my blood drawn, I asked the nurse for a quick water break. I blurted out, “Ya know, not drinking hours before the CT is like having my right arm cut off!” I grabbed my bottle and started chugging.
While gulping I thought What the hell did you just say? Not drinking for a few hours is NOTHING like not having an arm. What if the man with one mechanical leg in the waiting room heard me? Or what if the one-armed phlebotomist heard you? (Seriously, I had a one-armed phlebotomist when I was at Kaiser…she was very capable and I got to practice not being so judgmental. Win-win!)
Minutes later I screwed on my bottle top and said to the nurse, “Well, that was a really foolish thing I just said. Shame on me for comparing a drinking hiatus to not having a body part. You never know who you are talking to… or who is listening. Wow, I acted like an idiot.”
She smiled but had no words to go along with it.
I too am guilty of saying foolish things. This time I owned up to it. Maybe next time I won’t blurt it out…or better yet, not think it.
23 years of pushing my wife’s wheelchair due to her Multiple Sclerosis was kind of a trial and error degree in preparing me for hearing and saying both mispoken and foolish things. As long as we have tongues they will sometimes get ahead of our brains.
23 years at it? I’d say you’re a pro!
I do the same sorts of things. Something will fly out of my mouth and I’ll think, “Where the heck did THAT come from? Who AM I?” I try to remember that when people say stupid stuff. We’re all human.
It was a nice reminder to be on the saying side of things instead of the hearing side of things. A little perspective can be a good thing.
Funny, last night before I fell asleep, I prayed, Lord, please let me think before I open my mouth!
That is funny, Melanie. I hope it helps… 🙂