Listen to the message... even if there are some typos
I never fashioned myself a writer and yet every week, since 2015, I’ve written a weekly message about love and relationships. Whether you call it a blog or rambling thoughts about all that I’ve learned as a couple’s therapist… there it is every week. My grandpa always said that everyone has at least one book in them. Although I have yet to write a book, the words are there every week, waiting to be shared with all of you.
My process sort of looks like this…
I notice and observe things that encourage me to look at life and love differently.
I jot those thoughts down in the form of encouragement or support.
I sit down to my computer to try and turn my thoughts into some sort of comprehendible message.
I write, edit, read and re-read.
I send the blog to my husband to read and edit where he inevitably makes a few suggestions or catches a few typos.
I then read and re-read it AGAIN to be sure it’s good to send off to my VA.
My VA reads it to confirm all the grammar and typos are really gone and then it gets shared with all of you on a weekly basis.
The last step… the most cringe-worthy of all, is when I also get a copy in my inbox on Sunday afternoon (the same time you all get it) and I give it a quick read… only to find there’s still at least one typo.
I mean come on!!!
And this same process happens EVERY WEEK.
It doesn’t matter how many times or how many eyes have looked at it before sharing, I can always find a typo. Some grammatical error or an overly wordy sentence that should have been reworked to make just a bit more sense.
Good Lord… I throw up my hands.
This used to drive me absolutely nuts. Like crazy!!
But now I realize, my writing is just like my encouragement. Maybe it’s got a few typos, the grammar is a bit off, but it’s from my heart and my experiences and its intention is to offer support as you walk through the ups and downs of love. Because the heart of the message never really has a typo.
So guess what my challenge is this week??
Don’t throw out the whole message… even if there are a few typos.
When it comes to communication with your mate, there are going to be so many typos. Missteps and regretted words. Frustrated thoughts and high emotions. Mistakes will be made.
And you have a choice.
To throw out the whole message OR really slow down to hear the heart of what is being communicated.
I hope that you’re just as patient with me and my writing as you are with each other and that you don’t let a few typos make you lose sight of what’s being communicated.
Until next week,
-A