The other day I came down with the common cold on top of severe seasonal allergies. This led To a short case of laryngitis. Some moments I sounded like dark Vader, and others like a strangling mouse. So obviously as all things in the universe happen for a reason, I was trying to call out to the kids who left their chores incomplete.

I yelled at the top of my hoarse voice to summon them with authority. What came out however was the shriek of a rooftop night cat. I cleared my throat and tried again. This time I was able to get the scream that would make a soprano choir proud.

The next attempt was a croaking frog which after repeated attempts simply turned into a monotonous tone of a constipated crow. I gave up. I was getting no where. The kids could not hear me nor understand anything I was saying. Shortly thereafter I lost my voice altogether. I surrendered to my plight and sat at the bottom of the stairs with deep thought.

I wondered if on a regular basis that is the interpreted sound they hear when I yell at them. Do I sound like a broken record? Is that how it sounds to others when I yell? For sure that is how it sounds when I hear someone yelling at me !

The idiocracy of my yelling made me stop and question if yelling is even necessary. What is the message conveyed in that tone? Usually nothing. Being ignored. The delivery of any message is only as important as its frequency. Which in turn is only as significant as its authentic sender.

Will keep this in mind for the future when I am about to yell or bark out some command. Who is speaking? The person from their genuine level of authenticity and truth or the person hiding away in their shadows.

………………

I love you