Connecting with Others

 

  It's not just what you say, its also how you say it.

 

An old blind man was sitting on a busy street corner in the rush-hour begging for money. On a cardboard sign, next to an empty tin cup, he had written: 'Blind - Please help'.

 

No-one was giving him any money.

 

A young advertising writer walked past and saw the blind man with his sign and empty cup, and also saw the many people passing by completely unmoved, let alone stopping to give money.

 

The advertising writer took a thick marker-pen from her pocket, turned the cardboard sheet back-to-front, and re-wrote the sign, then went on her way.

 

Immediately, people began putting money into the tin cup. After a while, when the cup was overflowing, the blind man asked a stranger to tell him what the sign now said.

 

"It says," said the stranger, "It's a beautiful day. You can see it. I cannot."

 

How you say things is as important as what you say when you are trying to communicate with others.

This story may seem somewhat insensitive and/or depressing. However it illustrates in a timeless way how important choice of words and language is when we want to truly connect with and move other people.

 

 This Christmas season find ways to better connect with and move people to actions of love and peace.