Simply Being Careful with Words

So far, my posts have centered around the cleaning out and simplification of our living environment, but today I was thinking about how simply my words, or even my tone with words can have a positive or a negative effect on other people. I know...I get strange thoughts in my head all the time. But lately I believe they are messages I'm meant to listen and pay attention to.

A few minutes ago, I passed by one of our two cat bowls and happened to glance down to find treats still in the bowl. Earlier this morning my husband, who was taking on my task of giving the cats their morning treats, asked me if they had be given any yet. I told him no and heard the familiar crinkle of the bag and plink of the treats as the fell in the bowl. Now, an hour or so later, I notice that he did not in fact give them cat treats...he gave them dog treats.

My first inclination, smart ass that I am, was to send my husband a text and goad him for giving the cats the wrong treats. I'm prone to sarcasm as a way to relate to people and come on...it says dog treats right on the front of the package. But something made me pause this morning as I went to pick up my phone. I stopped and thought about what that seemingly simple, message might say to my husband. Did I want to communicate, "Hey dummy...don't give the cats dog treats?" Did I want to communicate my lack of confidence that he knows the difference between cat and dog treats? Did I want him to feel regret for having helped out with the pets so that he might not want to do it again? Did I want him to think that I was panicking about the cats being fed something that was not meant for them? (Which I wasn't, but historically I might have reacted that way.) Did I want him to feel like I'm focused on his mistakes, rather than being thankful for his help?

No.

I didn't want to communicate any of those things, because I wasn't thinking any of those things. It was not a big deal. The treats are different than the usual dog treats and the same brand as the cat treats I usually buy. I know it was an honest mistake. Even if the cats ate a few, I know these treats would do them no harm. So the simple message I was about to text was unnecessary, and was likely to communicate all the wrong things.  I know this is a round-about (non simplistic) way to get to my point...but my simple lesson for today is that sometimes, I simply need to pause and think before I speak, text or email and decide whether what I'm about to say is really necessary. Will it send the message I want to send? Will in energize and lift the other person, or is it simple meant to get in a jab?