I never have the right words at the exact moment I need them.
A guy ran his dog into the ducks I was feeding. I flipped out and he was so defensive, he made it seem like my fault.
My fear at him siccing that foul beast on me or mom kept me from really reading him off. But boy do I have a thousand snappy comebacks … now.
Same for getting a message kicked off with “poor me.” Followed with a lie. And punctuated by an accusation.
My instant mental reply was “read that back and you’ll have all the answers you need.” My actual reply, to move on with my day.
Among many responses in my brain is that I ruined a good thing to choose that instead. I’d give anything to go back to that concert that I ended up spending focused on my phone. Ignoring the good thing I had right there with me, for what I didn’t ask for. And how the latter monopolized my time and how I allowed it to.
How if I could do it all over again … I just wouldn’t.
9/15/17 Update: I got a do-over on that concert!