I KNOW SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT YOU

I hate talking about people when they can’t defend themselves at that very moment. This has been a personal belief that I have adopted from people that I have been with along the way. Some of the people that influenced me to adopt this thinking are those from work, family, friends and strangers that I’ve had discussions, arguments or just simple conversations. I want people to not think of me as someone who would make negative comments about them when their backs are turned against me. So does that mean I will not provide negative comments about them? Of course not, I will still give negative comments, as well as positive, about them. The only difference is I will do this in front of them. I will tell them the things I don’t agree about them and let them say their piece. Not that I hate them, just being open to understanding the why behind it.

Reading through my daily paper, I came across an article. This section is about things that makes you wonder and think about the good and the bad and then decide on which path you want to go. But before I continue using this article as a reference, I would first give credit to the author of this article so I will not be accused of plagiarism. This is an article by Bella Angeles Abangan entitled “Inspirasyon ng Kapwa” under the section “Lakbay Diwa” from Tempo dated Feb 28, 2011. She quoted a paragraph, not sure if it is a poem, entitled “I know something good about you”.

“I KNOW SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT YOU”

Wouldn’t this world be better?

If the folks we may meet would say,

“I know something good about you,”

And just treat the way?

Wouldn’t it be fine and dandy?

If each handclasp warm and true,

Carried it with this assurance,

“I know something good about you,”

Wouldn’t life be lots more happy?

If the good that’s in us all

Was the only thing about us?

That folds bothered to recall?

Wouldn’t life be lots more happy?

If we praised the good we see?

For there’s such a lot of goodness

In the worst of you and me.

Wouldn’t it be nice to practice?

That fine way of thinking, too.

You know something good about me.

I know something good about you.

My thoughts on the article:

I agree on almost all of the points that she mentioned. People spend time talking about other people talking about what? Bad things that they said, did and attitudes that they don’t agree with. She had the best suggestion that I have read regarding employees that talks about their bosses negatively. Translated, “Whoever dislikes the way things are run by the Boss should simply just leave/resign.” This by far makes the most sense. Not saying that people shouldn’t spend time talking to each other exchanging ideas about other people. It’s all well and good, but why can’t we just talk about the good things about these people? How would you feel if someone you don’t even know comes up to you and tells you, “Hey, I know something good about you”? Doesn’t that make you feel better? Then this person name-drops his source by saying, “I talked to , one of your colleagues and told me that you are the best at what you do.”

Final Thoughts:

I have been thinking of what the effects of the suggestions above will be. So far, I have not come up with anything negative. I will give this a try starting today and by posting this in my blog, I hope I get others to do the same. I will change my attitude of not talking about people in their backs to “talking about these people and saying something good about them”.

One more thing I would like to add that is a really good suggestion. “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”

/oaml