I'm really thankful for the writing group I belong to, as they practice such beautiful right speech. They highlight positive qualities of a person's writing, encourage the writer, and don't nitpick. Last night we problem solved a member's reluctance to write, and she felt better and so did we. And I've experienced so many similar situations, where something I thought was below par I came out of the group feeling I could really work with this piece to make it better, and the suggestions were helpful and doable.
We want to write or we wouldn't be there. Our lives are busy and we are distracted. Yet we make the time for the group. Our relaxation about attending, or having writing to share makes the group pressure free. That is, we realize the pressure comes from ourselves, and examining that can be interesting. I love that there is no competition, no judgment, and no envy. We really are thrilled when another member writes something brilliant.
One of the reasons the group works so well is that we've known each other for decades, are friends in our regular lives, and we've gotten through all the stuff that sets us against each other. We are FOR each other, deep down. And in our own ways, we practice right speech, not necessarily from the official Buddhist point of view, but out of a shared belief in not intentionally harming others. We are carefully respectful, and the tuning fork has been pitched to all our hearts.
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