Words Spoken, Words Perceived

A friend/co-worker called me the other day, I could hear by the sound of her voice there were tears coming down her cheeks. She had said something to another co-worker that she now regretted. She hadn't meant to hurt this person but apparently in her joking manner it was not perceived as "joking" at all. As a matter of fact this person took what was said very personal. In response, they lashed out with words more cutting then had been said to them. With intent to hurt, intent to harm, intent to cut deep and make bleed if possible. And it did. Not bleed literally, but bleed in the heart. My friend knew she had messed up. She knew by the response this person would not easily forgive. She immediatly had tried to appologize but the tone was that of hatefulness and disgust. There was nothing else she could do.

I went to work that evening. The injured co-worker was there. Everyone heard about what had been said, everyone heard what a terrible person my friend was for saying what she said. Everyone heard about the conversation and what was said in retaliation and how she got put in her place and "I bet she never says anything like that to me again".

Now I've worked with both of these people long enough that I believe neither one of them would say something to intentionally hurt someone. I believe they are both good decent people. Caring individuals in their own way. But it's amazing to me that one slip of a few words can cause a whole lot of drama and anger and frusteration by both the person speaking them and the person perceiving them.

The sad thing is that after a few days when everything settles both individuals are able to step back from the situation and see that it was mostly a big misunderstanding. However because of time passed and more words spoken they can never get back how they were with each other before all this happened. Not only that but everyone who heard, saw and experienced a part of this will always see both parties in a different light, no matter which side they choose or chose to be on. People will be forever changed in some way because of Words Spoken and Words Perceived.......Hopefully lessons learned.