A Time to Speak Up… (Friday Fictioneers)

Posted on by Prior...

Hello Readers, I am joining in this week’s Friday Fictioneers.  Check out the photo prompt (below) with this iron patio set sitting under a tree. My fiction piece was inspired by a quote from Forest Wood last Friday and then from a “little incident” that happened this Friday. Very minor incident, but involved speaking up (told someone they were rude to me – just had to).  So since that time we have been chewing on this topic  – like “when” to speak up, “how” to do it in love and if and when it is okay – and when “I” statements do or do not work. Hm…..

Anyhow, while chewing on this “speaking up” topic – the Friday Fiction photo prompt whispered…

An empty table with a touch of a desolate vibe (to me at least).

And so I drafted 100 words:

 

 

__

Patio Set and Slice of Land (fiction word count: 100)

__

That’s it.

All I have left.

Slice of land and patio set.

Do I regret speaking up?

Nope.

 

Sometimes I rethink it.

But it was right!

Even though it looked like on-the-spot reactiveness, it was calculated.  God-led.

—

When I rethink it, I remember the Proverb about time: a time for silence and a time to speak.

__

 

I heard passive people get promoted while confronters get cast out.

Confronters are sometimes called troublemakers, accused of attacking, or shot down as problematic.

 

I spoke up and had loss and mess.

But doing the right thing leads to more – not less.

__

 

__

Here is the quote from Forest Wood (her blog is here):

I am not sure about you, but yes, I DO know there is a time to speak up and a time to shut up – trust me, I have learned this over the years. And the Gates’ quote Forest shared has many takeaways – and one that I took was how we benefit from FEEDBACK.  Gates noted that unhappy customers offer the greatest helpful refining info – or can – when we harvest it.  And so leaders – and followers – all benefit from beign OPEN TO feedback and it is in your best interest to be around people that “speak up” even if it is not with what you want to hear. Make that ESPECIALLY if it is not what you want to hear.

Now sure….

I would rather err on the side of waiting it out – (maybe – because the  mess with speaking up can hurt and even if frustrated while being in passive mode or waiting it out – it is usually safer) –

But sometimes “you gotta do what you gotta do”  – and this might involve telling someone directly that they were rude. And then leave it at that.  Deal with consequences for doing the right thing.

Sometimes mess is needed because it stirs up the ground to allow health and learning. Ask any gardener and then tell you all about tilling and adding manure to the soil for the health benefits.

We never really grow when everyone around us stays passive.

And I know there are always finer details to consider, and in my flash fiction I tried to point out that “doing the right thing leads to more – not less – even if it causes setback and mess.” So let’s not be passive pussies. 

__

__

To read more, or to join in with writing short fictions inspired by this photo – go HERE 

..

.

.

.

..

.

 

 

43 thoughts on “A Time to Speak Up… (Friday Fictioneers)”

  2. I love this, especially this line: *doing the right thing leads to more – not less – even if it causes setback and mess* – so true!

    Yeah, sometimes you have to speak up. As someone with social anxiety, I’ve had a lifetime of being quiet because I thought people would think less of me but I’ve reached that point where I don’t care. Some people just need to be told! So, good on ya 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. thanks so much for the comment.
      I really soaked up your words and I really believe that there are times (even maybe years and years) where being quiet is needed – gues sit depends – eH? and maybe some folks speak up too much and need to learn how to bite their tongue – or you noted – speak up cos

      “Some people just need to be told!”
      so true

      Like

    2. I applaud your bravery in conquering your social anxiety, the difficulties which are known to my family. I think it is great that you have reached that point of not caring, but is the reason you might be apathetic about others’ judgement of you because you recognize that others can be quite accepting and not always judgemental, as SA sufferers are likely to think they are. People are often more likely to be wrapped up their own world than to spend time thinking too much about anyone else. Keep up the assertiveness! It builds confidence!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. You are right. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. I told my young son, who is a bit opinionated, that he must be sure of his facts and do his research properly if he wants to speak out. A great piece of flash fiction, Yvette.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. I so agree with you, Yvette. Sometimes it is best to keep our mouths shut and move on. But there are definitely times when one needs to speak up. I always pray I know the difference! Blessings to you and yours on this beautiful Easter weekend! 😁💕

    Like

    1. I agree – and when I don’t know the difference I usually error on the side of not speaking up – it is usually safer – whew

      and happy easter

      Liked by 1 person

  6. My two takeaway lines: “But doing the right thing leads to more – not less” and “Deal with consequences for doing the right thing.” It’s a tough world, and passive people, even more complicated. I agree: “I heard passive people get promoted while confronters get cast out” – there are so many of them, ha ha, unwilling to intercede but willing to form a biased, facing-their-own-demons opinion.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Bravo Y on speaking up! I am a speaker myself although I am trying to learn to shut up and wait for the right time. Timing is important right? The only problem is that the right time may never come for opportunity is a bird that never sits (or something like that). So while tempering my reaction and way of reacting I prefer to go with my instincts and say it. The repercussions are of course part and parcel of the game – win some lose some 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Like that bird analogy a lot!
      And all of what u said – ❤️🙏
      and I find encouragement if I know I acted in love or if it was overdue and maybe just needed to be confronted ya know? And so if we reap what we sow – well good fruits can come back in many ways – even if discomfort in short term

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Lovely poem and interesting thoughts, Y. And I see you got that quote from Amanda….she shares amazing quotes each week. To speak up or not to speak up is certainly something to ponder. Personally I feel there are better times to speak up than others. In the end I will champion speaking up over not saying anything when there is something to be realised and learnt or when there is unfairness going on. Some people will see you as rude when you speak up, and sometimes I feel that they don’t want to accept the truth.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I agree in so many ways especially about not wanting to see the truth. And it is sometimes innocent – like a human thing to resist and give the iron hand! Or to attack the mess her!
      And as Emily Dickinson said “truth must dazzle gradually or every man blind”
      And sometimes – not all – the iron hand gets lowered – pulled back- and in time someone might receive the message (or learn) but if we stay silent we rob someone of that chance.
      And delivery matters too (another whole topic)
      Xxoo

      Like

      1. So true, sometimes how someone receives what we say depends on delivery. Yes, we do give someone a chance when we speak up, a chance to learn…and also a chance for ourselves to get to know someone and see what makes them tick.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. I love that you were able to rise up out of the loss and mess to find something positive. We have to cop the flack sometimes, in order to make others listen! Silence is a useful tool, but even more useful is knowing when NOT to use it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well I did not have any loss this time – very minor but needed ( and sure hope I was not rude- ha!)
      Like what u said about knowing when not to use silence.

      Like

  15. The narrator of your story paid a high price for speaking out, it would seem. I hope that it was worth it. Still, the ability to live life without regrets is an enviable one. Well done, Yvette.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Sadly, too often when it is time to speak up, one doesn’t and when it is not time, one does.
    As has been proven lately, speaking up – it’s about time!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Well expressed and thought provoking. This is such an important reminder: “doing the right thing leads to more – not less – even if it causes setback and mess.” Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.