Saying Nothing

​Well he has blown the chance to be my new best friend.  He was delivering a fridge.  He said he goes to the gym early.  It was then he blew it.  He said, “there are not many there at that hour except elderly gentleman like yourself.”
Someone else could be my new best friend if I remembered why I was talking to them.  I was on the phone with them.  I told them my age.  They said they would have not thought that, but more like 20 something.  That definitely made me feel better.  Now, if I am standing right next to you, and choose to ring you rather than talk to you, you’ll know why.
I was thinking this morning about the phrase “saying nothing is saying no.”  As is my sometimes custom, I looked up various things about it.  One site that caught my attention had the title, “10 times your better off saying nothing at all.”
I so agree with that because sometimes I rush in thinking the pause is for me to say something, when saying nothing at all is definitely a better option.
One of the reasons that is recommended is something I practiced myself.  I think I mentioned before about being with a couple of people who really knew their stuff.  I did not have a clue and just kept quiet.  One of them commented “I think Peter knows a lot more than he is letting on.”  I didn’t.  If they had asked me a question it would have shown that.  But they did not ask, and I did not assist them to think otherwise.
I had a laugh when one recommendation was to say nothing at first when giving a speech.  It came from a lawyer.  They said often they start with a prolonged pause.  They said that tends to get people on side.  People think the notes have been lost, or the person giving the speech is having a melt-down.  A few on side early is always an encouraging start.
Another reason saying nothing is sometimes a good idea, is when you want someone else to grow. The article sited doing the homework of someone in grade two.  It would be easy, but the one in grade two does not grow unless they figure it out for themselves.
I really like that.  It was very much a reason I did not get involved with presidents of our club.  I was always available to help if asked, but figured the last thing a President needed was a former President looking over their shoulder.  I grew by figuring it out for myself, and I think others do to.
President Truman once said you can accomplish just about anything if you don’t care who gets the credit.  I find that really important.  I once had an idea that nothing was done about.  A number of years later it re-emerged from the person I told, like it was their idea.  I do not care.  A good idea is a good idea wherever it comes from.
Many times it is best to say nothing.  Not all the time though.  If I have an answer and no one else does but I do not speak up, then no-one is better off.
Also, if I say nothing and put things off to a more convenient time or just get someone off my back, the chance could come and go.  No wonder they say, “strike while the iron is hot.”  Striking may be not saying anything, or it could be saying something.  Generally, I can tell which is right for the time.