I regularly get myself into trouble with what I say.
Now I am not as bad as I used to be - and I don't have tourette's syndrome - but I can admit that I can say the stupidest things at times.
I have a really blunt sense of humor and usually say things as they are. Having this quality has probably made me offend more people than I know . Thankfully some people tell me and we manage to laugh at it eventually.
I do try to curb my tongue these days, but here are some cases where I actually felt the impact of my words fall onto people like those arrows in Avatar that give you 60 seconds to live.
Most Recent Case:
I watched a tap dance rehearsal for my amateur comedy graduation show.
This is the FIRST time I have ever seen a tap show and I knew there was a beginner's and advanced part to the show. They did an amazing rehearsal scene and I exclaimed to their teacher in front of all of them - "Wow - that was amazing! Are these the beginner's?!"
Turns out they were the tap veterans and some had been tapping for 12 years. Eeeek.
In my defense I don't know what good or bad tap or beginner's or advance looks like, but I think I pissed everyone off.
I was well impressed with the tappers - I don't think they were with me.
Case Nr 2:
Dinner with a couple in Dubai. (I met the husband via my husband and only met his wife a few months later and we have all become good friends now).
His wife is feeling a bit down on this specific occasion and is not very happy. We talk about how we all met and I say the following to her husband to try and cheer her up indirectly.
"You know - when I met you I was so suprised that you had such an amazing wife!"
Eeek. He did not speak to me for a while.
Previous Cases:
I was 19 and working for an ad agency. I saw an old photo from the 80's lying on my boss's desk. It was a photo of him dancing with a girl in an outrageous outfit. Gold Lycra and leather with 6 inch gold high heels.
My Question:
Who is the common girl you are dancing with?
His Answer:
It is my wife on our wedding day.
The Bible is very clear about the power of speech to do great good or evil. Words are described as having the power of life and death--the power to build somebody up, or tear them down. The power of the tongue should not be underestimated.
