Today is the eleventh day of the April A to Z Challenge. During this month I will be writing blog posts every day (with breaks on Sundays) about the topic “Sh*t I Say” starting with each consecutive letter of the alphabet. This is one crazy project, y’all.
Just say it.
This is a phrase I say to myself in my head. In an argument, I might yell it, but mostly this is internal. I wrote about this last summer. I don’t remember what precipitated my realization, but one day the thought struck me: Just say it.
I have agonized over business proposals and the proper language to use when addressing potential employers or clients or donors. There is so much baggage out in the word-universe, so much protocol that has come before us. In this time of too much information, I have found that simple is better. It feels more right to me somehow, and sometimes it actually works.
Whether you’re talking to someone or writing something, sometimes words can get in the way. You have so much bottled up inside, so many details and reasons why you feel this way, or why you have a problem, or why you need to ask a favor. Or you have an article to write, and there so many ideas to communicate.
I find that when I get overwhelmed – in any situation, even by my to-do list – the only way I can effectively move forward is to still myself and search through the mess to find the one nugget of truth.
What do I need to say?
Or what needs to get done next?
Or what is my purpose?
For that last one, I always come to this: to love and protect my family. That is purpose number one. Once I can say that to myself, everything else becomes so simple.
No kidding. I recently applied for a small contract, and the requirements in the classified were pretty vague, but I suspect I’m not qualified. I didn’t try to fancy things up. I just sent them a letter with what I can do, and let it go at that. I’m trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month.
Henry Ford: Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.