Sunday, January 29, 2012

Platitudes with Attitude

What is your favourite platitude?

Do you say that's the way the cookie crumbles or perhaps it's "A bit of fresh air will do you good?"

A recent visit with Mom at the hospital drilled home the fact people that are sick and elderly, or heavens any one just needing to be heard reallllly detest hearing platitudes. (myself included!)

It has made me more aware of how I speak and what I may be conveying.

No More:

"It will look brighter in the morning" or "You just need a good nights rest"

By saying these and thousands of others platitudes we are in a way dismissing the person by not really listening to the person and hearing them and most of all understanding them.

So often we really don't know what to say that will provide comfort and show that we do care, so we have a tendency to pacify with a platitude.

I'm going to make more of an effort to stop uttering platitudes because my mother at the age of 85 has once again shown me her wisdom and taught me another valuable life lesson!

Show someone you care by taking the time to reallllllly listen to how they are, even when it may take more time out of your day!