Kittens and Clues

I had a funny experience (and learned a good lesson) with my kids last week.

The four of us were FaceTiming when the cat that belongs to my son’s roommate came into view. Someone made mention of the cat being present, and I automatically cringed. My kids began calling me out for being insensitive to the poor little kitty. I had no idea what was happening. I wasn’t aware of reacting at all!

The truth is that cats terrify me with their claws and their hisses. That said, my intention was not to offend the cat or the kids.

The more important truth than how I feel about cats is that it’s hard to hide what we’re really about.

As Srikumar Rao states, “We are always dropping clues about ourselves. What we like, what our beliefs are, what we stand for, what we admire. Sometimes it is overt. More often we have no clue that we are dropping such clues. We drop clues with our tone of voice, body language, facial expression, choice of language, and much else.”

We learn about one another through the clues that we drop.

We can also learn a thing or two about ourselves.

My kids pointed out that my strong (and often subconscious) reactions are not restricted to helpless kittens. While sometimes my reactions are rude and uncalled for, often they are apparently sappy and embarrassing; like when I tell a person they “are lovely” when they have been kind to us at a store, or when I cheer loudly at the TV for athletes I find particularly tenacious and of good character. (I guess there's no denying I'm attracted to goodness.)

What are the clues that you are dropping about yourself?

Do they speak of your values or more of your fears?

Which clues would you like to make more obvious?

Which clues could benefit from a bit of restraint?

A fun thought for a Thursday.....

Love,

Molly