Hearing The Heart Behind The Words

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200 words, building community, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, heart, helpful, Homelessness, integrity, kindness, listen, meaning, Relationships, Taking offense, words, world issues

We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it. – Abe Lincoln

It astonishes me how many times I take things personally. The energy it requires to take offense can border on ridiculous.

Don’t get me wrong.

There are times when standing up against something offensive is warranted.

But we, as a society, have taken this too far for the most part.

I’ve spent a good chunk of my life working with vulnerable populations. Within this sector, well-meaning folks have declared certain terms offensive.

For example:

Many a supporter has said to me, “I’m concerned about homeless people and I want to help.”

Some might respond with, “…that offends me, I’d prefer if you said people who are experiencing homelessness.”

Instead of hearing the heart of the one who wants to help, they hear the words that offend them.

Ironically, those whom I have met living on the streets, refer to themselves as homeless people.

Yes, it’s important to not intentionally and maliciously offend, but it’s equally important to not be easily offended.

And so, I want to be someone who hears the heart behind the words.

Don’t you?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

Prepare To Stop Ahead LARDA55

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200 words, believe, caring, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, growing up, integrity, kindness, laughter, life, powerful, protected, signs, Taking offense, vulnerability, words are powerful, world issues

“Some people take offense like it’s a limited time offer.” ~ Tim Fargo

I passed this sign the other day.

Don’t take it personally. I didn’t.

In fact, it made me laugh out loud. Then I took three steps back to photograph and tweet it out.

It got me thinking about all the times I take offense at the things people say.

And although words are powerful – and I’d like to think that I am careful about the words I choose – I can’t help thinking that we take far too much personally these days.

Do we step in too much to protect our children and others, thereby stripping them of their power to stand up for themselves?

Yes words have power, but I have power too – power to rise above the words used against me and what I believe to be true.

After all, who knows? Maybe that sign is a message from God to get my attention about something I need to stop. 😀

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

What do you think? Do we need to be more careful with words? Or should we learn to “shake it off?” Or is it a little of both?