Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I just listened to my teacher's dharma talk, which always centers me.  He discussed fear arising now, because of the pandemic, and how we can PAUSE when the fear or thought arises, and then witness that thought or feeling  without immediately reacting, which will lead to a response from our higher intelligence, instead of our primitive fight or flight gut impulse.  Fear subsides if we notice what we're thinking or feeling WITHOUT immediately acting on it.  This idea of the pause has saved me many a time from acts or words that might be harmful to others and to myself.  Many years ago I began a practice of not immediately replying to a personal email, because I found myself regretting what I wrote.  A day later, my response would be completely different.  I've continued that practice, but the texting thing is trickier, as a quick response is expected.  I still take a tiny pause, or even delay a bit, so I don't embarrass myself or say something I'd be sorry for later.  That makes a phone call, which feels like an important lifeline these days, an arena where wrong speech has reared its ugly head, but then I can say something later in the call to address it or call back when I realize I've goofed.  Awareness is the key:  being able to notice words, and also the other person's reaction.  It takes effort, but it's worth it.