Next time, try a comma where you would have placed a period.
Have you ever noticed that when a statement is made like: I'm not good at ....(fill in the blank) it's as if there is an unspoken period there? Uh.... that's it? Do you want to get better? Or, “I tried to talk to him and just couldn't get through”. End of communication? How much in our lives do we just accept this as true and don't move beyond it? I bet if your boss forgot to pay you you wouldn't say: yeah, he's forgetful and that's that! I bet there is a comma there.
When I lived in the small community of Halcyon, I was fortunate to have an adorable 85 year old neighbor. My utility bill came to his address because although we were separately metered, we were combined for the total. So, once a month he would knock on my door and present it to me. Every month during the colder times of the year, as he handed it to me he would say: “you know, if you would close the big window blinds at night it would save on your heat.” And every single time for 14 years I would say: “yeah I know, my cord is broken” Period! One day a few months before he died, he came over and said what he always said and I said what I always say and all of a sudden he broke through the barrier to a comma and in a stern voice said: “GET THE DAMN THING FIXED!” I loved him for that, it is one of my fondest memories of Herb.
I have been practicing using my comma statements. Here are a few examples:
I forgot to pick up the package, I will go back and get it.
I don't know how to set up a website, I am going to dive in and set one up.
I've never been flexible, I am going to start stretching 10 minutes every day
and see if I could change that.
I don't like talking on the cell phone, I will pay closer attention to when my energy begins to drop.
How many times do we define ourselves and that's that? Fluidity requires openness on our part. I'm also wondering if the period is an unconscious (or conscious) way to not do what we didn't want to do. I forgot, I don't know how, it's just not me, I never, I don't have time, he/she won't let me, etc. It's a way of saying no but without authentic power.
I remember one morning as I was preparing to leave for an out of town trip at 5 am, Mark realized that he had forgotten to get gas the night before. I said “that's ok, I go right by the gas station and can fill it up on my way to the freeway.” He put his arms around me and said: “that's one of the ways I enjoy taking care of you, I'll get it.” I experienced his comma as love.
Try a comma where you would have placed a period and see what happens.
When I lived in the small community of Halcyon, I was fortunate to have an adorable 85 year old neighbor. My utility bill came to his address because although we were separately metered, we were combined for the total. So, once a month he would knock on my door and present it to me. Every month during the colder times of the year, as he handed it to me he would say: “you know, if you would close the big window blinds at night it would save on your heat.” And every single time for 14 years I would say: “yeah I know, my cord is broken” Period! One day a few months before he died, he came over and said what he always said and I said what I always say and all of a sudden he broke through the barrier to a comma and in a stern voice said: “GET THE DAMN THING FIXED!” I loved him for that, it is one of my fondest memories of Herb.
I have been practicing using my comma statements. Here are a few examples:
I forgot to pick up the package, I will go back and get it.
I don't know how to set up a website, I am going to dive in and set one up.
I've never been flexible, I am going to start stretching 10 minutes every day
and see if I could change that.
I don't like talking on the cell phone, I will pay closer attention to when my energy begins to drop.
How many times do we define ourselves and that's that? Fluidity requires openness on our part. I'm also wondering if the period is an unconscious (or conscious) way to not do what we didn't want to do. I forgot, I don't know how, it's just not me, I never, I don't have time, he/she won't let me, etc. It's a way of saying no but without authentic power.
I remember one morning as I was preparing to leave for an out of town trip at 5 am, Mark realized that he had forgotten to get gas the night before. I said “that's ok, I go right by the gas station and can fill it up on my way to the freeway.” He put his arms around me and said: “that's one of the ways I enjoy taking care of you, I'll get it.” I experienced his comma as love.
Try a comma where you would have placed a period and see what happens.
RSS Feed
