Welcome to Day 16 of 31 Extraordinary Days to Be…  Or…simply: Be…
Together, we will learn to Be… to live fully and beautifully in our “skin”
and in our homes and beyond.  If you missed The Introduction or you’d like
to follow the entire series, you can find each post listed here.

31 Extraordinary Days to Be... AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

 

Have you ever had someone tell you, “You talk too much!”

I don’t know that I have ever been told that or have even said that.  But…I have thought it.

You too?

 

Day 16 of #31Days :: Be Encouraging :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Don’t Talk So Much!

Why is it that we think we need to give someone who needs encouragement a mouthful of words?

I should ask myself that question.  Regularly.

I know I am guilty of saying too much.  Ugh.

 

One way to find out if you’re a wordy person is to check your word count.

Okay…that only works if you’re writing a document.

On the other hand…maybe there’s an app for that.   Let me know.

 

Day 16 :: Be encouraging :: Charles Dickens quote from Oliver Twist :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 “For the rest of his life, Oliver Twist remembers a single word of blessing
spoken to him by another child because this word stood out
so strikingly from the consistent discouragement around him.”
― Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist

Seriously, I need to think about this ‘running at the mouth.’

I doubt that my friends will say I’m a talker.  That’s because I do listen and usually talkers don’t listen.

But, the more important question is, “Do I speak at the right time and do I give just a small offering of words?”

Better yet…do I offer a word of blessing?

What would that one word be?

 

Day 16 Challenge:  Think back over a recent conversation with a friend or co-worker or neighbor.  Who did the most talking?  When you had an opportunity to give advice, etc., did you make a few words count?  Or did you tell the same thing from three angles, or maybe try to convince your hearer of your point of view?  Or worse, were you the expert? (ouch)

*** The Dickens quote from Oliver Twist is available as a FREE 8×10 printable.  Download here and save to your desktop for printing at home or take to your favorite photo printer.

Last week I asked for help in coming up with 52 Ways to Be Encouraging.  A few of you left some thoughts.  I’m thinking that many more of you were just too bashful to tap in your ideas, or second-guessed yourself before you hit “post comment.”  So….I’m giving you a second chance.  We all need do-overs. [wink] You can leave your thoughts below, or here (last week’s post), or on Facebook.  Thanks…wonderful extraordinary friends!!!!

Let’s be encouraging!

Diane

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Comments

  1. Love this quote by Dickens! I wrote a post today about being a friend, and how important it is that we offer encouragement to lift each other up. I agree, we need to know when to zip it but also when to offer that “single word of blessing” when needed.

  2. Wow, what a good reminder for all of us. Talk less, listen more, a great virtue indeed.Thanks, Ginger

    • Diane says

      Awww…thank you Ginger!
      Hope your week has been extraordinary!!

  3. Gwen says

    I’m guilty of this at times.
    Not least to switch. Was reinforced when I was paid to be listened to!!

    Another encouragement:
    Act on the tugs of your heart. It’s the Holy Spirit talking. My friend wrote out of the blue Theis week and it was on my hardest saddest day. Her words of Bible quotes and stories from the Bible turned me from total despairs so act on that feeling that won’t go away.

    • Diane says

      Oh yes..I like your thought to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. And I’m so happy to learn that your friend blessed you so amazingly. God is good. {hugs} Trusting that today you sense His love and provision.

  4. Mel says

    Hahaha…I was paid to listen and talk–and I’ve found the less I say, the better people are able to hear. I’m the same way. Simple things stick with me…..how those simple things made me feel REALLY stick with me. Yaknow…..people will forget what you said to them, but they’ll rarely forget how you made them feel. (Heck if I know who had that gem of wisdom, but boy is that true.)
    That’s what I took from the Oliver Twist quote–while the world around him discouraged, that simple blessing helped him feel hope. There’s a lot of power in that.
    I have a great fondness for the ‘starfish story’ and I often remind myself that it ‘matters to this one’…and I try to remind others that what they do, how they feel, what they think…..matters. Most times I don’t have to say it, I let other things to the talking for me.
    *laughing* And for a post about saying little…I rambled on a LOT. LOLOL

    • Diane says

      “People will forget what you said to them, but they’ll rarely forget how you made them feel.” That is truth, Mel!! And something we should remember. (Note to self….) You know…I think you’re right about hope too…we need to be carriers of hope. That brought to mind Emily Dickenson’s poem:
      “Hope” is the thing with feathers –
      That perches in the soul –
      And sings the tune without the words –
      And never stops – at all –
      I didn’t remember the whole poem, so I Googled it. And notice the third line? “sings the tune without words” Hmmmm…..
      I guess we both talked a lot!! LOL!!
      Blessings….

  5. Sometimes I hear myself just talking and talking and I say…self, hush!!

  6. This is a subject I am passionate about. Our words can build up or tear down. I want to be an encourager all the time, especially to my children. Sadly, sometimes I fail at this. But when I practice encouragement, I can see the light come on, the joy spark, on the person’s face and life. I agree with the Dickens’ quote, we long remember a word of encouragement or kindness. I didn’t grow up in an encouraging family, but my first boss had the gift and he honestly changed my life, helped me “make something of myself” in the workplace and in my personal life. There have been a handful of others who poured that encouragement into me, and oh what a difference it always makes. I want to be one of those encouragers and honestly try to grasp every opportunity to pour love, hope, and encouragement into each person I encounter. Each day when I go through the McDonald’s drive-thru for my daily fix of sweet tea, I pay attention to and joke with the workers at the windows, and I always leave them laughing – and it brings *me* joy! So yes, I’m pretty passionate about this subject 🙂

    Hugs ~ Mary

    • Diane says

      I love that you’re a joy splasher. Mary…just think of all the people who are blessed by you and your kindness every day. Even the people at McDonald’s!!!
      Hope your weekend is Extraordinary!!
      ~Diane

      • You can just tell that Mary would be fun to be with. A “joy splasher”…that’s a great way to put it!

        • Diane says

          I think this blog has the sweetest, kindest community. And that includes YOU Stacey!!! 🙂

  7. Carolyn says

    Dear Diane,
    Ohhh, the Art of Listening! How I long to excel in this one, even more than the creative arts & crafts where I can really hold my own. But of what good is it to be creative when we turn people off by our constant yammering! We all probably have that one friend who, after asking us briefly how we are, begins to “wax eloquent” & then goes on & on! Is it a symptom of some need they have? I have avoided such friends…& yet…”a friend loves at all times”…so maybe I need to just practice my listening skills w/her, knowing that other friends love a dialogue. Hopefully I will remember to listen carefully w/every friend & family member each & every time we’re together!

    • Diane says

      I’m sharing the bench with you on this one too, Carolyn!!
      Well said….

      Wishing you a blessed weekend. 🙂

  8. Leslie McNeil says

    words of wisdom for sure. appreciated seeing the quote, and the thoughtful provoking it provided.

    • Diane says

      Thanks for your words of encouragement, Leslie!!
      Blessings!

  9. What an awesome post and snippet from Oliver Twist (me thinks I should read it again as an adult).. I do try to set a guard over my mouth, I can be critical (which is hurtful) and seek to speak words of life to others that will bring edification to them… Thank you for coming by sharing your creative photography on the Weekly Top Shot, #105!

    • Diane says

      It’s been a while since I’ve been over to your ‘house’ Madge. It was fun visiting today. 🙂
      Thanks for your thoughtful words. We always need to be thinking about what we’re saying…don’t I know. [yikes!]
      Hope your weekend is Extraordinary!!
      ~Diane

  10. The light is so amazing in that second photo… wow!!!!

    • Diane says

      Thanks Laura!! Snapping a shot looking directly into the sun, you can’t tell how it will come out. This one surprised me. No tweaking was required either. 😉
      Blessings!!

  11. ps. would love it if you shared with I Heart Macro this week… I know visitors to my blog would adore these photos!

  12. I’m so happy you joined in I Heart Macro:-)

  13. Ohhhhhh, isn’t that just gorgeous, the sun flare is awesome!

    • Diane says

      Thank you Karen!! It was a delightful surprise. 🙂
      Wishing you an Extraordinary weekend!!
      ~Diane

  14. 'Tsuki says

    Very creative, well done !

    • Diane says

      Thank you very much!! I left a comment on your dragonfly photo, but with the captcha…I have no idea if you are getting it or not.

  15. Dear Diane,
    The photo with these amazing sunlight and the qoute of Charles Dickens are so beautiful!!! I like it very much!
    Have a wonderful time,
    Katrin

    • Diane says

      Dear Katrin,
      Thank you so much! 🙂 It was truly a blessing to get that capture.
      Now if we can just remember that quote and make our words count. Wouldn’t that be wonderful if someone would say that about us?
      Wishing you An Extraordinary Day!
      ~Diane

  16. Jen says

    The photo with the quote is just beautiful!

    • Diane says

      Thanks! The blessing of going for walks with a camera…you just never know what beauty lies around the corner. 🙂

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