OUCH!

Obvious

Unnecessary

Comments

Hurt ! 

In Cape Coral, my friend Oren S. and I came up with an acronym in response to Step Nine: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. The letters are OUCH which stands for Obvious Unnecessary Comments/Criticisms Hurt. 

I don’t want my words to be an OUCH for someone else. And when someone’s words hurt me I can also say or scream to myself OUCH! I can say the OUCH out loud or to myself. The physical word of OUCH is better than internalizing someone’s hurtful words. 

If I hurt others with my words, I can feel that it’s not good for them nor for me. So the acknowledgement is for the good of the other person and for myself. It’s healing and it is an amend. 

George and I do the OUCH with each other. We show each other all of the different sides to ourselves. When I hurt him, I try to make it up to him in some way. Trust and respect develop over time.

#asbonnieseesit

#willingtobecomereal