I recently was checked. You know, “the process by which someone puts another individual in their place verbally or physically either in a joking manner or a serious beat down.”
Now, the person didn’t physically put their hands on me, but in their mind they felt like they really accomplished much. Me being me, I allowed the individual to express themselves and didn’t flinch, respond negatively, nor raise my voice. I simply allowed them to finish their rant and politely went about my day.
However, in true Maggie fashion, I replayed the conversation in my mind a few times that evening, processing how I could have handled the situation differently and what were my takeaways from the above conversation.
Quickly, this is where I landed. We live in a world where folks simply believe they can say and do whatever they want, whenever they want. Folks are very comfortable hiding behind their keyboards and smartphones. I can’t pinpoint when this shift took place. I just know I grew up in a time, where if you didn’t have nothing nice to say, you didn’t say anything!
A time where we treated others how we wish to be treated. A time where if I acted a fool in public, my mother would correct me in that exact same location and would triple dog dare me to respond with something other than, “yes ma’am!” Call me naive, but those were good times. I ache for the time when we welcome decorum/civility back in our daily activities!
Again, replaying the conversation. I know I could have responded negatively to the individual that was having their moment. I could have given them the same negative energy/ shade they were throwing my way. But for what? To get in the gutter and say things I know are not worthy of the woman I thrive to be? No sir! Not me!
See, I’m a woman of a particular age and I know there is a reason to be nice. I know that once you say something harmful, you can never take the words back. I know words hurt, despite what we’ve been trained to believe. Most importantly, I know in my heart that there is life and death in the power of the tongue! Do you?
Until next time, you gotta be nice!
Peace!
Maggie A. Lewis is member of the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council.
