Many, many growth rings ago at a family camp, I initiated an experiment that would prove if the people there would be sharing the truth or if they were simply sharing an opinion.
The camp was located in a wonderful wooded area set in, round and about two miles from the main highway. As a matter of fact, it seemed like they made way too much road for that distance. Much more road than where they had the space to lay it. My guess is the reason they squeezed hairpin curves “S” curves and “U” turns into the stretch of access road between the main highway and the camp was to get it to lay somewhat flat.
Anyhow, back to my story. When everybody was assembled around dinning tables, I asked them all to stand and point North. The result was hilarious! I never knew that so many different directions ever even existed. A few fingers I’m sure must have been pointing North, but I couldn’t have told you which ones they were.
To prove my experiment valid, I asked the camp director to stand up and point North. His affirmation suddenly brought a round of hoots from those folk that were sharing the fact, and just as quickly separated those who simply shared an opinion.

“Could you possibly spare a little money? My car is out of gas and I can’t get back to work.”
He seemingly came up from no where, but suddenly I was being confronted face to face!
My wife and I were just getting into our van.
What should we have done?
What was he thinking -
1 - “People have been pretty generous, I hope I don’t need to pop this one over the head just to get a few more dollars to ride another high.”
2 - “I’m going to grab his billfold and run while he’s looking in it for bills.”
3 - “If I could only get myself invited to ride with them, then I could take charge.”
Excuse me but reviewing how our day might have ended very differently then it did, literally makes my skin crawl.
Or was he thinking -
4 - “I’m late already, I’m praying that he’ll give me just a few bucks so I can buy a gallon of gas and get back to work before I get fired.”
What should we have done?

How ingenious!
Question- Do you really expect me to pay about a ten point buck or a dainty amount of doe for two deer alerts that fasten to the front of my vehicle?
Answer - Ok, let’s assume I’ve paid for these alerts, installed them, mostly according to directions, and now there are only alerted deer around me, wherever me goes.
Question - Will these deer alerts limit damage to my vehicle by hitting alerted deer only?
Answer - Only the alerted deer will know how effective his alert really is down the road a piece.
Question - I should never be able to hear how well these silent whistles are working because if I do, they aren’t working?
Answer - I could even act surprised if customer service acts surprised when I return these silent whistles.
Another answer - To me, me acting surprised when I’m not, is an off balance kindness, strictly designed to appease my target.
Question - An afterthought, “Why don’t I purchase some accessories too, those old pens that have quit writing?
Answer - I can use them for drawing those invisible barriers and for recording secret sounds emitting from the deer alerts.”
Final answer -
If I become vulnerable enough to participate in any of the above, please remind me to check if my bubble is still touching both lines.

This pittle lig ment to warket;
This pittle lig hayed at stome;
This pittle lig had boast reef;
And this pittle lig nad hon;
This pittle lig said, "Wee, wee, wee!
I fan't kind wy hay mome.

And then way fid dinally hum comb,
The big waad bulf thus where.
Je was hust a talking lout owd,
Thanding stare with is cleyes hosed.
Talking tight ru the diglets pront foor
“Or I’ll Puff and I’ll Huff
And I’ll hoe your blouse down.”

The pittle liglets were shirty poor see didn’t he them
Style wanding there with clis eyes hosed.
So they nipped a slote into dare thoor, rich wed,
“Little ride redding lood’s grandma’s hooking your foo.”
“Thee wink lee shives on the bellow rick broad, lo song waad bulf.”
When the waad bulf noted the notice, he ned the rote and left the pittle higs louse.
And the pee little thrigs star ill hiving lappily aver efter!

What are you thinking?
What is an afterthought worth?
If you are right the first time, you don’t need it.
If your people are opposed to change, you can’t use it.
If the incident has been settled, an afterthought just gets in the way.
If it’s presented weakly, like an afterthought, it won’t be understood.
If it’s presented forcefully for emphasis, it can dislodge anger.
If afterthoughts begin to roll and grow, they could snowball!
It might be best to think in detail before sharing.
What if there was just a “think before you speak” available, no after thank or thunk?
Thank sssssss for waltzing through all this with me, so what are your thoughts after all?