Many people talk about doing the right thing.

Many people talk about doing the right thing at the right time…that’s even better.

There seems to be a consensus: when we do the right things at the right times we gain advantage…we grow…we meet goals…we succeed.

So – we understand WHY there is value in doing the right things at the right times.

And – much time and effort has been spent exchanging ideas about WHAT are those right things, WHO should do those right things, and WHEN are those right times.

However – one major piece is missing…the HOW.

For example – has anyone ever presented to you the opinion, “Before you can do the right thing at the right time you must think the right thing.”

And, in reaction to that statement you may have thought, “That’s a bit of a confusing thing to say.” And, you may have asked, “Can you explain that comment?”

And following more discussion you understood…

Most of the time we think without thinking about thinking. Our minds are bombarded by unplanned, haphazard thoughts. And, haphazard thoughts frequently are the causes behind our actions.

Considering the extent of unplanned thoughts, it is no wonder we often fail to do the right things at the right times.

That is the first part of the problem.

The second part of the problem: When we have not done the right things we think about how to justify our flawed actions. We know, at least subconsciously, we are ‘making excuses’ for our haphazard thoughts/actions. And, we know we are ‘making excuses’ for not doing the right things at the right times. And – everyone around us knows this too.

When personal growth [of any form] is desired, it is important to embrace the power contained in, “Before you can do the right thing at the right time you must think the right thing.”

When change is personal growth [of any form] is desired, it is important to embrace the power contained in, “Before you can do the right thing at the right time you must think the right thing.”

First, let’s make sure we are on the same wavelength. By ‘profanity’, I mean offensive language. While ‘offensive’ is [of course] subjective and potentially debatable, I think most of us can agree to the following definition of ‘offensive words’:  ‘Offensive Words’ are words we are very troubled to hear from the mouths of our 2- and 3-year old children and grandchildren. In fact, it was a discussion of a 3-year-old’s repetition of a ‘swear word’ that led to the writing of this Thought Post.

It seems to me we observe profanity in 5 forms:

• Expletives: the things people say when they are angry, frustrated, or in pain
• Humour: often tied to body parts and body functions
• Racism/Bigotry: malicious references to people who are different, including attempts at humour
• Religious references: these can overlap expletives [such as taking the Lord’s name in vain] and bigotry laced with intolerance for people of other religions
• Habit-speak: as examples - gang talk and passed on habits of family members

Now, I’ve explained what I mean by profanity…What do you think about it?

Specifically, how do you want people to speak at your workplace and what words, if any, should never be used in your workplace? What “Master Rule” applies at your workplace?

How do you or will you address violations of your rules that limit offensive language?

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Some related thoughts and questions…

Other ways to describe profanity and expletives: blasphemy, curse, cuss, cussword, dirty word, swearword, four-letter word, obscenity, profanity, swear, vulgarism

How do you feel about consistency, do you ‘practice what you preach’? Do you choose to use words at work but choose not to use them in front of your 3-year-old relatives?

When you wallop your thumb with a hammer, what words spring from your lips? If you are not pleased with those 'automatic' words, how could you possibly break that deep-rooted habit?

When you are angry, do you climb up the ladder of increasingly-offensive language?

Do the people in your gang think it is cool to repeat, repeat, and repeat profanity?

In your workplace, is it OK to emphasize an important point by using a strategically-placed piece of profanity?

I have read that native North Americans knew no profanity until the Europeans arrived…I wonder if that is true.

Why has profanity gained so much ground in our mass-marketed entertainment...i.e., why is there so much profanity in our literature, our songs, and our movies?

Is swearing inversely proportional to intelligence? [i.e., The more the profanity the less the IQ & EQ?]

Why have so many 'bad words' been created for body parts and bodily functions? And, why are they considered ‘bad words’ while other descriptors are considered acceptable? So many acceptable descriptors are Latin-based it causes me to wonder how often the Latins used swear words. A quick on-line search suggests there were Latin profanities in the Roman heyday...isn't that disappointing!

What role has religion played in all of this? The 3rd of the Judeo-Christian 'Ten Commandments' says "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain". Clearly, profanity in some forms has existed for several millennia. People must have been using religious profanity in Moses' time. Were they also using other forms of profanity at that time?

One day, after labouring over the selection of a couple new shirts, it occurred to me there must be better ways for colour-capable people to communicate with colour-blind and partially colour-blind folks.

Now I don’t want to blow my colour-limitations out of proportion. I realize my limitations are modest and my challenges could be much worse. For example, according to family legend my grandfather was either completely colour-blind or very close to it. So, I know, my challenges are small.

Regardless, I feel I have some ability to speak in support of colour-limited people.

It seems to me it is time to set colour-capable people straight about their woeful communications with those of us who are less gifted in the spectrum of visual colours.

So, to get started, I have created the following…

10 Tips for Communicating with Colour-blind Folks:

Tip #10

Don't waste your breath saying, “Until I go blue in the face”.

[For all colour-blind people know your face could already be blue…perhaps even orange. And, speaking out of the blue, colour-blind people will think you are trying to pull their legs if tell them you have the blues.]

Tip #9

Never assume colour-blind people are looking for ”greener grass”.

[That just ain’t happening…there is no greener grass or greener pasture for colour-blind people. And furthermore - don’t get upset if your colour-blind neighbour has the ugliest lawn on your street.]

Tip #8

Refrain from using that ”low-hanging fruit” saying when talking with colour-blind folks.

[Colour-blind people don’t see fruit on trees…well maybe some of them can see lemons and oranges…if the sun happens to be shining just right.]

Tip #7

Don’t argue with a colour-blind person who denies being “green with envy”.

[And, don’t try to convince a colour-blind driver that last street light was red. A colour-blind driver just won’t accept that…especially if he’s your spouse.]

Tip #6

Don’t expect your colour-blind buddies to get excited about painting the town red.

[If you insist on this activity, remember colour-blind people are lousy painters…so, make sure you check their spray cans prior to departure.]

Tip #5

”What are you – yellow?” are not the right words for challenging the colour-blind.

[Rather than feeling their manliness is being challenged colour-blind fellows fear they are coming down with an illness and ask for their wife’s opinion.]

Tip #4

Don’t complain about red tape in front of colour-blind people.

[And, don’t be too surprised if colour-blind people appear to be wearing rose-coloured glasses when you hand them pink slips.]

Tip #3

Remember, colour-blind people agree with the Borgs...”Resistance is futile.”

[I know this to be true. My grandfather was an electronics enthusiast. My mother helped him get over the Borgish futility he felt around resistors.]

Tip #2

Here’s a fine little love poem, pretty much guaranteed to win colour-blind hearts:

Roses are grey

Violets are grey too

Sugar is sweet

And so are you.

Tip #1

Don't expect colour-blind people to get all excited about ‘50 Shades of Grey’.