Someone Has To Say UNCLE

Growing up we used the word UNCLE to mean "I give up" or "no more" or "you're right" or "I surrender." However, when I watch kids today at a playground, I never hear UNCLE. Kids in the playground get mad at each other and when they do they say things like: "I hate you" or I will never talk to you again" or "you're a brat."

The interesting thing is that after two or three minutes they are back playing together. I assume the fun and the happiness of playing in the playground overrides any bad feelings.

Don't you wonder why adults can't act this way? But nooooo, we adults have to keep pushing the issue over and over again until someone says UNCLE. We have this addiction to having to be right. We have this addiction to getting the other person to give up. We have this addiction to getting our way.

The funny part of all this is even when, after arguing back and forth, we might realize we were wrong in the first place, we still keep attacking until someone says UNCLE. We get even madder if the other person says UNCLE too soon and we know they don't mean it. That one really pisses them off.

Why can't we think like young kids and say to ourselves who cares who's right or wrong let's forget about it and continue having fun together. Does getting the other person to say UNCLE make us happier? Even if it does, how long will that last? Is dealing with the hard feelings of making someone say "you're right" worth the short lived satisfaction. The answer is NO, NO, NO!

What's wrong with saying: "you could be right or you could be wrong, but wouldn't you rather go see the fabulous movie we were going to see before we opened up this can of worms. The answer is YES, YES, YES!

Remember my words from my previous blogs: "whenever you get into a conflict with someone, before you react say to yourself: "is what I'm doing or about to do leading to my happiness?"  If you take the time to step back and put that thought into your head, most of the time someone does NOT have to say UNCLE.

Try being a kid again and put your primary focus on the fun and happiness stuff not the who wins and who loses stuff. You and the other person will greatly benefit.

OK, what if the other person demands an UNCLE? I say, give them an UNCLE. Don't say: "I give up" or "no more" or "you're right" or "I surrender."  Just say UNCLE. You don't have to mean it; you just have to say it.

They might not understand what UNCLE means, but they sure will get the hint that you're not going toe to toe with them because you're more interested in getting to see the fabulous movie.

Can you still love yourself if you say UNCLE? Can you be proud of yourself if your first words are UNCLE? Can you still respect yourself if UNCLE is one of the happy words in your vocabulary?

If the answer is YES you get it. If the answer is NO you have a long way to go to find your happiness.

UNCLE is a stress reliever not a stress creator. Stress relievers lead to happiness. Stress creators lead to more stress. If you want to be happy for the rest of your life just say UNCLE!