Life Lesson: It's not WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it....

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I have not spent as much time on DK as I used to.  I do read posts often but I do not comment and I do not post many discussions or blogs at all.  I find that to often I feel very bad for people that are reaching out for help, have questions, are in general uninformed about certain topics, or have had to make decisions that they probably wish they did not have to make. 

 

I feel bad for them because without fail it seems there are members just waiting for people to say something they can criticise or judge.  Even when people are pleading not to be judged some just cannot resist being condescending and judgemental.  I find humor when people defend their mean-spiritedness stating that this is a group with open discussions and people are entitled to their OPINIONS.  I never realized that to be an opinion you had to be judgemental and critical.

 

We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows o...

 

Here are a few definitions I had given to my 13-year-old daughter last school year when she seemed confused about how to react to certain comments made by her school peers.

 

question  - noun

1. a sentence in an interrogative form, addressed to someone in order to get information in reply.

2. a problem for discussion or under discussion; a matter for investigation.

3. a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem (usually followed by of ): It was simply a question of time.

4. a subject of dispute or controversy.

5. a proposal to be debated or voted on, as in a meeting or a deliberative assembly.

 

statement   - noun

1. The act of stating or declaring.

2. Something stated; a declaration.

 

opinion  - noun

1. a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.

2. a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

 

judgement - noun

1. an act or instance of judging.

2. the ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion: a man of sound judgment.

 

judgemental  -  adj

1. of or denoting an attitude in which judgments about other people's conduct are made.

criticism  - noun

1. the act of passing judgment as to the merits of anything.

2. the act of passing severe judgment; censure; faultfinding.

  

compassion - noun

1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

 

empathy  - noun

1. the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.

 

respect -  verb   

1. to hold in esteem or honor:

2. to show regard or consideration for: to respect someone's rights.

3. to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with: to respect a person's privacy.

4. to relate or have reference to.

 

 

 

Giving criticism tests your communication skills. If you do it right, you can change it from a stinging, negative message to a positive, motivating experience for every member that reads it.

You may be frustrated, angry, annoyed, peeved, apoplectic or slightly uncomfortable. But if you approach criticism with a temper or an angry demeanour, you are less likely to think straight and may say or do something you wish you hadn’t, or others to feel embarassment for you disregard for people being humans and not perfect.

Stop and ask yourself…why do I need to criticise someone else? Simple question, not so simple answer.

 

Because they have failed, botched, screwed-up, or not performed to the level I expected, I have to let them know how I feel about it. 

Really?  Someone asking for help, asking questions, being uninformed, making a decision you necessarily don't agree with or someone just making a statement, you have to let them know about it by being critical and sometimes downright rude and mean?  God help anyone with a low self-esteem.

Here are a few quotes I thought about while going through posts today..............

• Judging others is a dangerous thing, not because you may make a mistake about them, but because you may be revealing the truth about yourself.
• We may ask for information, but we are usually only interested in what confirms our opinions.
• A narrow mind and an open mouth usually go together.
• Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
• Never judge a man's actions without knowing his motives.

 

There are many, many, many members on DK that are awesome! Whether I agree with all of their opinions or not they handle themselves with finesse.  At the end of the day doesn't everyone want to feel good about themselves and how they have treated others?  As my mother ALWAYS said "It's not WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it".

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

As the owner of a very sick dog whose medical costs are astronomical, who longs for a beautiful, healthy young puppy, and who has stayed up nights worrying about finding homes for dozens of dogs whose owners no longer wanted them, I can tell you that I will never in a million years have empathy, compassion, or respect for this kind of thing. Never. And it is deeply insulting to me as well as to Jack that anyone would expect me to.  

[Carol and Banjo]

((((((HUGS))))))))  to you and JD!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

And huge hugs and doodle kisses from me and Riley too XXX

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I know how much time and effort you put into trying to help him, and more importantly this poor Doodle.  Most of that was not seen here, but I know.  Hugs from G, M & J too!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you my friends.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Bunches of hugs from us in Texas!!  You will always be my inspiration!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Hugs from two admirers in Oregon! Your devotion to Jack and all doodles is an inspiration!

[Pat and Traveler]

Lots of hugs from those two admirers in Oregon!  Errrrr...you did mean me too, right, Ricki?

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

How about if I change that to 4 admirers in Oregon?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you all.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Karen all I can say is you are my hero!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, what you have done for Winston puts you in the hero category, kiddo. Like mother, like daughter, lol.

Seriously, I am sure I'm not the only one here who worried when you took him in. Young single working girl with one doodle already and a cat, so few people seem to be able to manage that much well, and Winston seemed to have so many issues, health and allergies among them. That night in the ER, OMD! I will tell you, I could not have handled it at your age, and maybe not even now. And you have not only handled it, you;ve done it with grace and without complaining, and you saved Winnie's life. You are someone I'm very proud to know, Sherri.