I know plenty of people that absolutely gag on the first sign of a cliche. In fact I know some people that refuse to associate with a person because they speak in "fortune cookie" language. This is not an insult to the asian culture (firstly, I'm not sure of the origin of fortune cookies, and secondly, aren't fortune cookies the true reason we patronize Panda Express?) Another way of naming this type of vague advice giving speak can be Palm Reader Speech or Day Time Talk Show Advice (yes, if you relate to the guests you do have serious issues. But Dr. Phil has no more poignant advice than the bearded guy with the end of the world sign around his neck) I agree that there is something bothersome about someone who can take every fleeting moment, and generalize it into a one or two sentence statement that creates some sort of philosophy, or worse a judgement, about a person or situation. However, is that because we disagree with what's being said, or is it because we can never connect with who that person truely is?
Vague speech creates vague ideas. It's how they market the super-athlete of today like Tiger Woods or LeBron James. People like having vague ideas about these guys because in turn they can be whatever you want them to be. Good guy, bad guy, the worst thing and best thing to ever happen to the sport, what are they saying to clear any of that up? The thing is we pick and choose Super Heroes. If your neighbor across the street, co-worker, or bank teller talks to you that way, if you're like most, it becomes hard to want to have a conversation with them. Vague speech raises more questions than it answers.
I thought of one of those vague sentences today. "Life is about the small things". One part of my brain is hollering at the top of it's non-existent lungs, bellowing WHAT DOES THAT EVEN REALLY MEAN! Can't it mean 100 billion different things? Is it worth saying, writing, thinking? How many trifle questions are going to come from 6 words? The other part of my brain is quietly thinking about an experience I had yesterday. I turned on the sprinklers and let my 2 year old daughter have fun. She didn't look at the water and analyze it. She was just her little 2 year old self finding a small moment to run around the yard, scream, and have a blast. So the question comes to mind, what makes me feel like she does in those sprinklers. It's my wife, family, a beautiful trail, and my optomism in this life and the one to come. I am grateful for that moment. I am grateful for the opportunity to experience the truth of those 6 words. Of course it leaves me with another question. What are your small things?
