Those Little 2-Letter Words I’m Trying To Stop Saying

I’m sitting at my desk in my studio, items I see are a Shure SM7B microphone, RODE sound board, and disco ball of course. I also see a post-it note that has the word “so” on it with a circle and a line through the word, the universal prohibited symbol. It’s not because I don’t like the word, but I do have something against it when it comes to being on the radio.

If you’ve ever been on the radio, or you’ve ever even listened to the radio, what is it about DJs that when we’re nearing the end of our story or message, we feel the need to sum up what the listener should do or how they should feel after listening to what we just said?

I will tell a story or share a message and then there it is, that little two-letter word starts to formulate in my brain getting ready to come out of my mouth! For example, this week I’ve been talking about my 7-year-old Ruby and how she’s losing all these teeth! Teeth falling out everywhere at our house. I feel like I need to start leaving out snacks for the Tooth Fairy because she’s here so much, ANYWAYS! I’ll tell the story of how Ruby is losing teeth and growing up and how childhood goes so fast and how she was just born! And then… It’s about to come out! Ssssss……ooooo….

“So, we should cherish our kids” “So, let’s notice their little teeth” “So, life goes so fast” “So, yada yada yada”

Our way of human storytelling wants to wrap the story up in a nice bow, tie the bow and look at the pretty story package, but wouldn’t it be *so* much better if we just allow the listener to receive what they are meant to receive from the story on their own? The listener is feeling their own thoughts and own emotions as they listen. Their mind is framed around their past experiences and their current reality. Their feelings and thoughts are different from mine and they can form their own “takeaway” without us having to say what their takeaway should be from our stories. Their minds can and will come up with something distinctly and specifically for them because they are unique.

(My brain is wanting to say “so” to wrap this up but you’re your own person with your own brain, thoughts, feelings and emotions, so remarkably you and I know you’ll come up with a takeaway all your own, therefore I’ll just leave it here.)