I once read somewhere that when you speak to someone, never point out something about them that they cannot fix in three seconds.I mean, it's okay to tell someone they have ketchup on their face. They can wipe it off right away.
But what are they supposed to do when you comment on their weight, their acne, their receding hairline, or the color of their skin? What can they do when you ask why they aren't married yet, or why they don't have kids, or why they don't have a job already? There's nothing to fix in that moment, but only a weight to carry. The weight of the reminder that they are somehow behind in life, or not good enough. We often say our intentions were good, and maybe they were.
But if that goodness doesn't translate into our words, then what good is that intent? Because in the end, it is the impact that stays with people, not the intent.
