Good Gossip

“I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth; but rather by some means excuse the faults I hear charged upon others, and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody.” – Benjamin Franklin

I knew a woman once who took a temporary job working for a large corporation. She determined that, albeit the job was simply answering phones in a small branch of the company and far below her capabilities, she would do it to the best of her ability.

Every day in the course of her new job, the woman talked with the employees at other locations and she felt the negativity in their voice as they spoke of her new employer. Knowing he was not the ogre they thought he was, she decided as she drove home one evening there was something she could do to help improve their opinion of him.

Every time we hear something about someone we have a choice to make. We can pass along the comment to others or not. If the comment is negative, we really aren’t doing anyone else or ourselves any favors by repeating it. It doesn’t really matter if it’s true or false; a good result is never achieved by talking bad about someone else. It may create some excitement momentarily to be the bearer of the latest gossip, but the thrill quickly goes away and much damage may have been done. And there is always the old saying that what goes around comes around. You may be the subject next time. And anyone who will participate in gossip with you will also gossip about you.

Good gossip, on the other hand, can completely transform a situation or relationship from hopeless to joyful. How many times each day do you have an opportunity to bolster another’s esteem by repeating good gossip instead of bad? How many lives could you touch by passing along a compliment you heard

about them today? We all remember comments that were made about us and to us as children. The words you say can help make or break someone’s self esteem. You have the power to help or harm every time you open your mouth.

Nothing stops a gossip faster than saying “Really? He always speaks so highly of you.”

“So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.” - Will Smith

Excerpted from Sidewalk Flowers, Vol. 1

Copyright © Glynda Lomax