One attribute I need to work on that is in my deck of Virtue cards, is the one titled “Respect.”

There are 52 cards in the Virtues deck, each of which refers to a character trait that is helpful in getting along with others. And in getting along with yourself as well.

The card I picked for today is titled “Respect” On the backside of the card it states: You are practicing Respect when you…

  “Speak courteously to everyone”

I sometimes find myself responding wrongly in a conversation with a person who speaks strongly in favour of something I disagree with. I want to defend my own point of view and I feel this person is attacking me personally.

More likely, the person is defending his/her own point of view. The fear or anger that’s welling up in my own psyche is not valid. The other person is clinging to something that has little or nothing to do with me. It is his/her baby and there is no blame attached toward someone protecting what they strongly believe is their own.

I have my own baby which I will also protect in the best way I can. And somtimes the best way is silence. Very hard for an old woman to be silent.

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