What Would You Say?

If someone wanted to discuss a problem with you right now, what would you say? 

Some days, I just don't have room for any more problems, how about you? Some days I just want to get thru and get some work done. How about you?

Some days, though, there is an opportunity to talk about what's going on and if that opportunity passes, it's gone forever. I remember a long car ride up the mountains to Breckinridge, Colorado one Valentine's Day when a problem (or hand-full of problems) unfolded a great opportunity to talk. For reasons still unknown to me, I could not talk. The words would not come. My body language didn't communicate what I was thinking and (perhaps) what I was thinking was too sad to say. I don't know. I wish that I did. What I didn't know at the time was that moment, during those steep climbs, there was an opportunity to resolve problems and that opportunity would never come again so freely, so safely, and so sincerely. It faded away.

It was still a good day, but the chance to tackle a problem was gone. The problem now had problems of its own.

One good problem could launch a thousand conversations. One good problem could raise a thousand brilliant powerful questions. But you've got to have the courage to talk about it. 

Look for that next opportunity. Embrace it. Savor it. Refresh in it. Talk about it.

-- doug smith