The topic for the day in the children’s schoolroom was aspirations.
“Class, I’d like you to write down what you would like to be when you’re a grown-up.”
The children shared their responses with the teacher.
A doctor. A firefighter. An NBA star. A school bus driver. Possible.
“Johnny, what do you mean when you say you want to be ‘possible’?”
“Well,” explained the little boy, “my mother says I’m impossible, and she seems so unhappy about it, so I decided I want to be ‘possible’ when I grow up.”
We need to realize that what we say in moments of frustration can be misunderstood. Words matter. Choose yours carefully.