This computer this morning seems to have a mind of its own and it isn’t doing what I would like for it to do or need it to do this morning. I thought I would ask you a question. Have you ever started typing a message only to discover that your computer was SHOUTING AT EVERYONE? 😂That happened to me this morning. LOL
As I redid the message I wanted to let you know if your wondering why your keyboard has decided to get loud when all you wanted to do was send a simple message! October 22 gives us International Caps Lock Day and International Stuttering Awareness Day. One gives us a reason to laugh at our technology, while the other reminds us that the way someone speaks should never determine how we treat them.
And for me, there’s a country music legend and a little piece of my own Texas history that belong in this conversation when celebrating these #Holidays. I would like to be honest with you. Most of us have accidentally left the Caps Lock on at one time or another. We type away, hit send, and suddenly our perfectly innocent message LOOKS LIKE WE’RE MAD AT THE WHOLE WORLD!
Then comes the frantic backspace button, the corrections, and the hope that whoever received the message understands that we weren’t actually yelling. Technology certainly knows how to keep us humble! Just like men we gotta love it or do we Charlie asked this morning when it happened to him.
When I think about International Stuttering Awareness Day, I think of Mel Tillis. Man, oh man, that man could SING! Mel was a country music star known for his singing and songwriting. He also had a stutter when speaking, something he discussed publicly throughout his career.
His story reminds us that speaking differently doesn’t mean someone has less to say, less talent, or less to offer the world. People deserve the time to express themselves without being rushed, interrupted, or made to feel uncomfortable. We can remember Mel for the music he shared with us and appreciate the person behind the performances.
Here’s where my own story comes in. When I was a child, I worked at the Whataburger on Beach Street in Fort Worth, Texas. Mel Tillis filmed a Whataburger commercial there, but wouldn’t you know it? I happened to have the day off! Can you imagine? I worked at the place where a country music star showed up, and I wasn’t even there to see him! Of all the days to have off work, right? 😂
I missed my chance to meet him, but that little connection has stayed with me. It’s one of those memories that makes you smile when something brings it back to mind. And that’s one of the things I love about living life and collecting memories. Sometimes the smallest connections become stories we enjoy telling years later.
Caps Lock Day and International Stuttering Awareness Day may seem like an unusual pair, but they give us two different things to think about. We can laugh when our computers get the best of us. We can share funny stories about technology, remember the entertainers who made us smile, and enjoy a little nostalgia.
But when it comes to people, kindness matters. If someone stutters, give them time to finish what they wanted to say and don’t rush them. Listen to what they’re saying instead of concentrating on how they’re saying it. Don’t finish their sentences without permission or turn their speech into a joke. Everyone deserves to be heard.
Now I want to hear from you! Have you ever sent a message in ALL CAPS because you accidentally left your Caps Lock on? Did you grow up listening to Mel Tillis? Do you remember his music or his Whataburger commercials? And have you ever missed meeting someone interesting by just one day? Share your stories in the comments. I would love to hear them!
I believe life gives us plenty of reasons to laugh, and sometimes the best stories come from the moments we didn’t plan. I may have missed Mel Tillis at that Whataburger on Beach Street, but I still have my memory, my Texas connection, and a reason to smile when his name comes up.
So laugh at the computer, enjoy the music, and remember to give one another a little grace. We’re all trying to get our words out into the world. Let’s make sure we’re listening with our hearts, too. ❤️ Then lets take the time to thank Mel Tills for the beautiful songs he gave us.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed. 🦋🐸✝️
GratefulMoments.com
#CapsLockDay #InternationalStutteringAwarenessDay #MelTillis #Whataburger #FortWorthTexas #TexasMemories #KindnessMatters #GreatfulMoments
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
