Instead of focusing on things I say, I’m trying to focus on the things I haven’t said

Ialways tried to be cognizant of the power of each word.

I tried to compliment my next-door neighbor when she styled her daughter’s hair into pretty braids. I thanked the cashier and told my niece that no one bakes chocolate chip cookies quite like her. I tried to show my appreciation to my children verbally, and to follow the 80/20 compliment-criticism ratio.

But lately I’ve become aware of the power of the unsaid word. When I don’t tell my cousin that she looks beautiful, she lost so much weight... because her sister who didn’t is standing close by.

Instead of focusing on things I say, I’m trying to focus on the things I haven’t said.

Here are some of the things I did not say today.

“Come back here and pick that up!”

“Get off the phone. You’ve been on it for the past two hours!”