We went to dinner at a friend's house last night and had a lively discussion of the looming election. Everyone but me watched the debates and reads online. I didn't feel tempted to follow their examples, because I have a different view of managing my stress level, and because I believe my checks are more helpful than anything else I'm willing to do. I'm not of the stuff that wants to persuade others by my verbal acuity. I want to somehow respect and understand others' points of view, even if I believe they are not seeing things through a wide enough lens. I can easily put myself in most people's places, and yes, there are some people I don't want to even try to see things through their eyes. I am not a misogynistic male and as a female have an inability to see why I should be hated as a gender. Everyone had a mother.
But I felt confirmed as the evening went on that for me, and only for me, wrong speech is to be avoided by my little old ears as much as possible. I'm a writer and I have a vivid imagination. I don't need to hear locker room talk or racist slurs or class berating. I'll keep as much as I am able a brain not filled with such junk. I don't enjoy the buzz up or the indignation or the depression that ensues. Call me fragile, that's okay, I get to monitor what input goes in.
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