I’ve had a couple of recent conversations that have transcended the average level of communication.
Not because I’m above average—on most days, I have to work very hard just to be average. But by their nature, most conversations stay safe. We instinctively shy away from anything risky. And let’s be honest: there’s always the question of whether what is said is actually what’s being heard.
I once knew someone who believed that everything said was actually code, a surface-level statement hiding a secret subtext. Sometimes it was close. Sometimes it was the opposite of what was actually meant. Wait—on second thought, that person might have been me. No wonder I’ve spent so much time confused.
The point is this: we often fail to recognize the value others bring into our lives—friends, relatives, coworkers. We fall back on that broad, dismissive phrase: It goes without saying.
I’m actively campaigning to eliminate that phrase from my life.
It will be said.
Say it. Risk it. We don’t need empty flattery—it might sound nice for a moment, but we all know when it’s hollow. And more importantly, we know when it’s untrue. Truth and honesty are best friends. They stick together.
How much better to affirm the truth? To encourage one another with the honest impact of knowing them? That kind of exchange could change a day—maybe even the world.
Alright, alright—depending on the day, I’m not always ready for the full touchy-feely. I sometimes revel in my solitude. I am a rock. I am an island.
It’s a balance.
But balance means tending to both sides. Not every acquaintance deserves the same emotional depth. If everything is given the same weight, then nothing stands out. No contrast, no shape, no edge.
My suggestion is simple: share the truth. Let people know they matter.
One of the most powerful things you can say to another human being is: I see you.
And maybe even better: I see you—and it matters to me.
Some have said I’m on “the other side of Wednesday.” That might be true. Maybe that’s why the thoughts are becoming more thoughtful. But that doesn’t mean I’m delusional. It means I’ve come to see that being thankful is a good thing. Being encouraging is even better.
Thanks and encouragement are sorely missing in this world.
Be the change.
