Thought and Poem

Thought and Poem – October 10, 2014

You have heard it said that it is not “what” you say, but “how” you say it. The tone of your voice really dictates whether a person will listen or tune you out. Have you found this to be true with you? It has been my experiences in life that when I “season” my words, people tend to listen to what I have to say. Sometimes, I use a little more “pepper” than I should and I may get away with it but, I try not to make a habit of this.

There are times however, that we overuse our words. We may be repeating our words to the point where we tend to have those “I want to scream, pull out my hair, or go crazy” kind of moments. Especially when we find others aren’t listening, actually hearing what we are saying or they don’t want to hear us. You can see them roll their eyes to a distant part of their bodies and they don’t roll back to their proper places until we are quiet. This is life….so listen up…if you just heard us the first time we would not have to use more words than you want us to say. And, the first time we may have been polite, the second time we may have had a few huff and puffs in between breaths, but after three times, the tone of voice goes to the extreme end of the high/loud pitch part of the scale. I know someone who screams in three different octaves. The first two you tend to ignore but the last one, the high/loud screeching is impossible to not hear nor forget. Please just give them what they want!

What are the triggers that help you know when you have reached a point where the tone of your voice is going to change suddenly? What do you do when you get to this point to keep your tone from the breaking point? Share your thoughts with us...Jeanne Claire Probst.

The “Tone”

“Didn’t you hear what I just said,” you say as you find yourself repeating your question again?
“I know the neighbors down the street heard me, so don’t pretend!”
I’m finding that more and more you seem to ignore me.
So what can I do to know that you will listen to me when I speak?

“First of all, it is not what you say,” they lovingly let me know.
“But is how you say it…it is all in your tone.”
“We want to hear what you have to say,”
But when you use that tone of voice, well, we want to run the other way.

So use your indoor voice if you can please.
And let us know what you want a little more quietly.
“We may be apt to listen when you talk us,
And we wouldn’t have to roll our eyes and make all this fuss.

Because quite frankly, when your tone gets that high,
Wow, it goes through every bone we have inside,
And makes what we’re supposed to do for you a little confusing,
So please use a nicer, softer tone of voice with us and a better respond you will get. You’ll see…maybe?

Jeanne Claire Probst