WTF?? I am sure virtually everyone reading this blog knows what that means and this is going to be one of those blogs where I am just as guilty as some of you are, that of being too free and easy with our profanity. Now, in the world, there are those who never swear, and those who weave a tapestry of profanity almost every time they talk, and then there is the great middle group who swears depending on the circumstances. As I am sitting here typing this out, I realize that although I am solidly in that middle group when I talk (I hope), I cannot remember the last time I ever wrote a swear word. So, I think, if I can communicate just fine in writing without swearing, why do I feel the need to do it when I talk?
Most of you don’t know about Tony Bennett, no, not that Tony Bennett, this Tony Bennett was the head basketball coach at Washington State University and the University of Green Bay. Any of you who has watched a basketball game has seen a coach get into it with a referee, red-faced, animated, obviously upset and extremely vocal. Tony Bennett was one of those coaches who could do that and never use a swear word. When I heard that the first time I thought wow, there is a guy in command of himself and relishing the challenge of elevating his speech even at a moment of high emotion. I am thinking to myself right now, if he can do that, I should be able to do that.
I don’t think I swear that much, but much to my embarrassment I don’t actually know. What I do know is that likely no one is actually impressed when they hear me swear and I need to remember that. So, I am going to challenge myself to stop swearing, period and see how well I can communicate in spite of that limitation. I am guessing I will get on just fine and I urge all of you to join me. Babe Didrikson the famous woman golfer remarked that once the golf ball leaves your club, you have no more control over it, well the same thing is true with our words once they leave our mouths.
Have a great weekend everyone and I will look forward to seeing all of you next Friday.
Ed
