Words were exchanged.
Maybe there was some yelling.
Maybe some things were said that shouldn’t have been.
Maybe someone stormed off.
When the dust settles and everyone has calmed down, did it actually accomplish anything?
Why did the argument even start in the first place?
Was it because one party’s ego was damaged?
More often than not, that’s exactly what it was.
And if we’re honest, we already knew the people around us were capable of it, we just weren’t prepared for it when it happened.
Marcus Aurelius put it plainly:
When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: the people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly.
Maybe it’s time to remember that before the first word, the one you can’t take back, leaves your mouth.
Cameron Blewett is an independent writer and publisher. He helps professionals and organisations turn complex ideas into clear, authoritative writing through Dark Quill Agency. His work spans projects including GreyBeardedVegan.blog, ItsAllAbout.coffee and VeganStoic.com.