Respond thoughtfully
if you are able
By Jan Penton-Miller
Columnist
I saw a funny on Facebook that really told a tale of how things have changed. A picture
in a yearbook had been crossed out with the caption, “This is how you unfriended
someone in the old days”. It made me chuckle, but also got me thinking about some
things.
Back in the day if you had a problem with someone and made an unkind remark about
the person it made its way around. But usually before things got too nasty someone
stood up for the person in question. After a bit, apologies were made and life went on.
Unfortunately, things can get much more serious much more quickly these days. With
social media so prevalent, often before a person’s brain can engage he/she has spread
an unkind remark or reacted in an inappropriate way to someone else’s post. If we don’t
even know which news station is bringing us the entire truth, probably none of them are
without bias, how in the world do we know if a post is legit? Short answer…we don’t.
If adults have trouble with this just think how easy it is for a child to get caught up in the
fray and be hurt or hurt someone else. With school starting I’m hoping that parents will
take time to talk to their children and youth about this very thing. And maybe those of us
who have had a few trips around the sun should be a little more diligent ourselves.
Talking to myself here. I have been guilty of responding to posts without checking them
out to see if they are factual and later regretted that I had responded at all.
It seems that people have become much more free to criticize and deride others when
they aren’t in a face-to-face conversation. Perhaps taking a moment to ask ourselves if
we would comment this way in person would be a chance for good sense to prevail.
Winnie has taken over my lap instead of sitting by my side while I write. I can’t believe I
am spoiling her so much, but it’s difficult not to let her have her way. She is a precious
little six pounds of black and tan fun. My new little dachshund is getting better with her
separation anxiety, but Mike and I left her for 5 hours on Sunday and that seemed to be
a little too long.
Although it has been difficult to remain cool and collected when Winnie is upset after our
return from an outing, it does seem to help her settle down more quickly. I give her a few
minutes to run around and let me know she hasn’t been happy before I pick her up.
This brings to mind the wisdom of not making a big deal out of every little bump or bruise
on a toddler. I remember the huge difference it made when I learned to say, “Everything
is ok, “ instead of, “Oh my goodness, where does it hurt?”