Abe's Scathing Letters
Laban "L.J." Johnson
Social Impact Strategist driven by a passion for enhancing quality of life through innovation and connectivity. founder of LJLearn.com (e-learning + individual empowerment) and LJ Group ( multi-niche content network)
Abe Lincoln was known for his scathing letters. He would write them but never send them.
Why not? Because he knew that once he put his thoughts down on paper, he would never be able to take them back. And, he didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. He was aware of the potential damage that could be caused by his words. And, he was unwilling to risk hurting the people he cared about.
The result was that Abe Lincoln became known as a great communicator. He was able to get his point across without ever having to resort to name-calling or personal attacks.
The lesson for us is that sometimes it is better to keep your thoughts to yourself. If you are angry or upset, it is better to take a few minutes to calm down before you put your thoughts into words. Once you say something, you can't take it back.