A list of things I wish I said

Topic #295:

We all have experiences where after we leave a conversation, or a date ends, we realize something clever we wish we had said.

The French call this l’esprit de l’escalier, which means, roughly, staircase wit (as in, you get the idea for something to say only when you are in the staircase, heading home).

Can you recall moments in your life, at work or at home, where you realize now there was something else you wish you had said? Or done? Make a list.

Thinking about it, these kinds of moments makes you either regret or do better next time. I know there’s a pattern or common occurrence whenever this happens, like being assertive and expressing my emotions for example. To be honest, I’m just wasting my time now waiting for myself to become sleepy. I’m not yet in the mood to take a nap because I’m again feeling apprehensive towards my flight to the south this noon. So bear with me and I’ll put an incomplete list of things I wish I said:

Warning: The following list contains Tagalog words. But I’ll put a rough translation so others can comprehend to them.

SITUATION #1: A lot of times when I wish I said affectionate words personally to someone who’s very special.

What should have been said: I wish I said these words personally: “Mahal kita (I love you).” Very brief words.

SITUATION #2: I have sometimes been taken out of the context because of saying something out of my wrong choice of words. It’s like hurrying to speak when I could pause for a while before speaking. These are the times when I am interpreted as arrogant when in fact I just don’t wanna be bothered by anyone. A certain situation I encountered with this kind of context was when I’m talking with somebody in a heated discussion but a common friend of ours suddenly butted in our conversation and wants to join. Trying to tell him to back off for a while, I said: “Wag kang epal (Don’t butt in, you don’t belong).” Of course, the friend of ours cursed when he heard my remarks so I apologized immediately. But the damage has been done so I learned something from it.

What should have been said: I could say better choice of words like “Kami na muna. Next time ka na lang muna. (Please don’t meddle. I’ll deal with you later, okay?)”

I’ll update this later, so please bear with this published draft of mine. Thanks!

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