When Is It Okay To Gossip? & What ELSE Could I Do?

I’ve spent the last few days plucking staples, hundreds and hundreds of flippin’ staples, from our floors. We’re replacing the carpet and apparently removing staples is part of the job.  Had I known this tidbit of important information, I would’ve done whatever side hustle it took to pay the $2000+ labor to hire this done.  I do not work well with my hands, and I am not a fan of repetition.  That’s all this job is about.

I thrive off of random, switching things up, and inconsistency.  It’s just how I am.

Last night we pulled staples until nearly midnight. Then today the kids and I were back at it again while Mr. Awesome was at work.  I challenged myself to at least finish the living room before he got home.

I didn’t succeed, but I came pretty close!

Plucking staples gave me a lot of time to think and I realized something else I challenged myself to and haven’t followed through well on:

Telling people when they’re good at something!

It sounds simple, and maybe weird, but I have this flaw where I tell OTHER PEOPLE how good somebody is at something, but not the person I’m talking about.

I try to avoid bad gossip like the plague (and I hate when I find myself partaking in it!), but I think there can be such a thing as good gossip. I think good gossip is acceptable, but telling the person straight to their face is even better!

Here’s an easy example: Last fall we hired a new Youth Director in our church and I told a few parents how awesome he was doing at his job.  I gave specifics about how I think he relates well to the kids, and has a good balance of fun and teaching.   The kids are excited to spend time with him, and they actually talk about what they’ve learned.  That’s a pretty big deal when working with teenagers!

Then someone responded with “Well that’s great, have you told HIM what a good job he’s doing?”

Um…. no. I hadn’t thought to do that.  Would that be weird?

While I’m sure the parents appreciated hearing that their kids are in good hands, it would’ve been even better to go straight to the Youth Director and encourage him personally in his new position.

So that’s an ongoing challenge to myself, to basically give credit where it’s due, and to genuinely compliment people.

I challenge each of you, dear readers, to do the same: Encourage someone; Breathe life into them and give them some verbal approval that helps them to keep pressing forward in their role.