They Myth of Self Expression

I asked my Mom and Dad, what their secret was to being happily married for over 60 years. They replied, “Knowing when to keep your thoughts to yourself.” Unfortunately, a lot of messages in today’s media are laced with sarcasm and put-downs, supposedly meant to be funny. We become so inured to this that we forget how hurtful these ‘witty’ quips can be to others. I’ve been through divorce myself (fortunately no kids at the time), and thankfully I’m now happily married with two daughters. Having been through the wars myself, I have to agree with my folks. Most often relationships – at home and at work – grow stronger when we resist the temptation to express every ‘innocent’ put-down, minor annoyance, and fleeting thought.