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Blessed are the Silver-tounged

Self-possession isn’t for everyone. But there are greats who always say and do the right things especially in challenging situations. Responding to belligerence with indifference, to doubt with confidence, to superciliousness with pity. Then there are some who never find their tongue. 

I cannot count the number of times I have thought of “the fitting reply to that pretentious toad” long after the conversation has ended. Then promising to avenge myself the next time this happens. After all, playing out the scene a hundred times in my head should count as good practice?

Sadly there never are any replays and in the rare case I have an another shot, things never go as planned. 

What is it that makes some people so spontaneous? 

Ironically it is because they think before they speak. At least that is what I think. You say lame? I say give me a chance and hear me out. 

Now whenever I am having a conversation especially with the aforementioned “pretentious toad” kinds I want to make sure I give intelligent replies and sound very clever. (More like, I am way above you and your jabber.) So I am constantly thinking about what witticism to put forth next and I am not really listening to what the person is saying. So by the time they are finished I either say something totally unrelated but oh so cool or I just nod and express agreement. Sadly not cool at all. 

On the other hand the silver tongued just listen to what is being said and respond with honesty.

It isn’t easy to own yourself with your flaws and quirks. It is intimidating to put this “self” on public display. But most arduous is to keep up a pretence of someone you aren’t.  But what harm do we feel will come of saying things as they are? Are we afraid of looking like a fool?  Putting the famed foot in the mouth? But haven't we been doing exactly that all along? 

At least speaking our minds and being ourselves will serve up some satisfaction of having said and done what we wanted to in the first place. And this (drumroll please) is how champions are born.

Now why I would want to have anything to do with any pretentious toads is nothing but attending to the little matter of satisfying my ego. Basic human needs? But that is a whole other topic for another day. 


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