November 5, 2002

Drawing the line in Dialog...

What is acceptable to say to people? How do you make the distinction between what you can & can't say to some and what you can & can't say to others? 

I speak my mind.  Always have, always will.  Depending on the topic, I generally don't ever edit what I'm about to say in my head, I just blurt it out and let the embers fall where they may.  However, I have many different friends - with very different personalities.  I speak to them the way I think they want to be spoken too.  Sometimes I slip, and every now and again, a few are shocked at what comes out, but for the most part, I control my behavior in some fashion.  

In my professional life, I try and be slightly more reserved with new individuals.  Once I begin to know them and feel comfortable with them, I slowly let the 'fizgig' side of me emerge.  

Most people seem to like it.  At least I think they do.  I haven't gotten too many complaints. 

L says that I'm like saran wrap - what you see is what you get.  It's very difficult for me to hid who I am and my true feelings about anything.  

Occasionally, I've been known to swear.  Alright, there have been times I've been likened to a truck driver or gangster, but I have really curbed it.  I NEVER use bad language in front of children, and I always think before I speak around them. And as mentioned, I also try to watch my language with co-workers or any business associates.   

Several months ago, some friends and I went out and an acquaintance joined us.  Every other word out of her mouth was F_ _ _.  It was sad really.  At one point in the conversation I began to count how many times she said it and by the end of her story it was 53.  The story was no more than 6 minutes long. 

I think that was the day I decided to try and limit my cursing and hopefully someday, expel it completely from my vocabulary.  

I suppose the older I get, the more concerned I am with how I appear.  It was one thing to be a young 20-something beer-drinking, cool chick with a potty mouth the size of New Jersey.  Now I simply want to be a beer-drinking, cool chick in her mid-30's with a more lady-like demeanor.  

Don't get me wrong, a part of my potty mouth will always exist.  Each time I trip on one of my dogs toys I will curse like a sailor.  And of course, when I'm driving, and some insane person cuts me off.  

That HAS to be acceptable.

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