“It is what it is,” my cousin responded when asked how he was doing in light of a recent divorce.
What was he actually saying?
“There’s nothing I can do about it.”
To me, this phrase feels like a cop-out, not only because it says nothing, but also because it’s borrowed language.
Think about it…
When in Rome…
But have you ever been to Rome?If the shoe fits…
Does it? What about both of them?If roles were reversed…
The fact that you’re saying it probably means they’re not.
What about lived language?
It doesn’t have to be dramatic; it simply has to be owned.
“In my experience…” Sometimes that phrase is the beginning of a #humblebrag. Other times, it reflects experiences that genuinely inform our responses.
Those moments are gold.
Sometimes borrowed language is easier than admitting we don’t yet have the words.
People often speak in ways that avoid being truly known.
I’d rather speak from lived moments than from the thrift shop of recycle-ready phrases.
Borrowed language maintains social interaction.
Lived language creates human connection.
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