“If you can’t say something nice…don’t say nothing at all.”
These timeless words of wisdom were spoken back in 1942, in the movie Bambi, by his energetic, pink-nosed rabbit friend Thumper.
Thumper had just criticized how Bambi, a newborn fawn, walked. Thumper’s mother quickly reminded him of what his father had told him that morning, “If you can’t say something nice…don’t say nothing at all.”
What an important message for all of us to remember and put into practice.
Whether you are talking about people, politics or national events, your words matter. So be careful of what you choose to say.
How do you know if it is something you should say?
T.H.I.N.K. before you speak:
Is it True?
Is it Helpful?
Is it Inspiring?
Is it Necessary?
Is it Kind?
If your answer to any of these five questions is “no”, then you should keep your thoughts to yourself. Simple as that!
I owe this 5-Step Strategy to my young son’s teacher who taught this to her students last year.
I encourage you to put this into practice for yourself. Teach your children. Show up with words that are helpful, kind and inspiring.
We could all use more of that energy in our world!
Cheri Timmons is a Greensboro Downtown Parks program partner. The work she does with us is critical to providing FREE wellness programming to our park community. As we make our way through these unprecedented times, consider how you might support local Greensboro non-profits like us, as well as local businesses, artists, entrepreneurs like Cheri, makers, and more. We'll continue to bring you free programming through our digital platforms and look forward to having you join us and Cheri back in the parks soon!