Question and Thought for the Day January 12, 2025

Question of the Day

What’s something you’ve said to someone that you wish you hadn’t?

Thought of the Day

If someone asks for an honest opinion, double-check to make sure they really want one.

Honesty is a funny thing. We all claim to value it—until we find ourselves on the receiving end of a brutally candid remark we weren’t quite ready to hear. There’s a delicate dance between truth and tact, between giving someone your raw thoughts and dressing them up just enough to soften the blow. But here’s the catch: not everyone who says, “I want your honest opinion,” actually means it. Sometimes, they’re hoping for validation or reassurance, not a truth bomb that leaves them picking up the pieces of their ego.

So, what do we do with that? Should we censor ourselves for the sake of peace, or should we always deliver the unvarnished truth, come what may? I’d argue it’s situational. There’s a difference between honesty and cruelty, and the line between the two is thinner than we often realize. If someone is genuinely seeking feedback to grow or improve, honesty is a gift. But if they’re fishing for compliments or emotional support, a well-placed word of encouragement might serve them better.

Still, there’s power in owning our words—and, just as importantly, owning the moments we wish we could take them back.

Which brings us to today’s question.

Question of the Day: What’s something you’ve said to someone that you wish you hadn’t?

We’ve all been there. That moment when words tumble out of our mouths, and as soon as they do, we know we’ve crossed a line. Maybe it was an offhand comment that came out harsher than intended. Maybe it was the honest truth, delivered at the wrong time, in the wrong way. Or maybe it was something we said in anger, words that can’t be unsaid no matter how much we wish we could rewind the tape.

For me, it’s the times I’ve been too quick with my tongue, too slow with my empathy. I’ve blurted out opinions without considering whether the other person was in a place to receive them. I’ve prioritized being right over being kind. And while I can’t take back those moments, I can learn from them. I can pause before speaking, ask myself whether what I’m about to say will help or hurt, and decide whether the truth is best served now—or if it can wait for a more thoughtful delivery.

So, what’s your story? What’s that one thing you said that you wish you hadn’t? And more importantly, what did you learn from it? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s have a conversation about the power of words—the ones we share and the ones we wish we could take back.