MONDAY THOUGHTS: WITHIN EARSHOT

Sound travels. 

In many settings no amplification is needed. 

Restaurants. 

Buses. 

Trains. 

Planes. 

Store aisles. 

Public restrooms. 

People have to care about who's being accidentally invited into their conversations. 

Seems silly to wonder how information was disseminated if you're in the habit of talking loudly and indiscreetly--in public places. 

I, indirectly, heard something very personal about two acquaintances. 

It literally knocked the wind out of me. 

Sometimes, you have to stop people in mid sentence, and hip them to the levels to which they take inappropriate speech when they think no one is listening. 

All of the time, you have to choose your friends and acquaintances wisely. 

Truth is a great friend, but there are some things that I don't want, or need to know about people, whether a gossip thinks I SHOULD know or not. 

I've found that minding my own business takes considerable time. 

In this day and age, that line from the kiddie song is frighteningly true: "For your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends." 

Some of your friends, however, can't keep wet in water. They're hanging around you, and have access to your business, but there's not a discreet or loyal bone in their bodies. They actually delight in telling others what they know, as a result of spending time with you or handling your affairs. Perhaps it makes them feel important or powerful to be able to take you down a peg in the eyes of people who admire what you do, but don't know you personally.

That feeling of importance diminishes, however, when they’re the topic of messy conversation.