This means that in text arguments with a partner, friend, and yes, even my sister, I like to send a paragraph. My words often consist of a thesis statement (“I think it’s funny how...”), supporting sentences (“Every time this has happened...”), and of course a conclusion (“If you don’t start considering the way your actions affect me...”). Most of the time, my essays are filled with eloquent prose and a clear message.
Occasionally, they’re just an angry garbled mess of words. And while I’ve gotten much better at only sending the former kinds of texts, I’m still very pro-paragraphs. I have never regretted sending a single one.
The response from my recipients is mixed. In the past if I was arguing with a partner, these paragraphs would be met with annoyance and the accusation that I was “doing too much.” Even my friends sometimes joke that they’re afraid of being on the receiving end of “one of my paragraphs.” I, however, have never let this affect the way I communicate—especially because I send the paragraphs for me. Melissa Gluck tells Cosmopolitan.
It’s not my fault that I feel the need to express myself via text—it’s just how I operate! And secondly, I used to be the person that hated confrontation. I didn’t like addressing things and I let feelings eat me up inside.
Even when I knew for a fact that the person on the other end was mistreating me, I’d keep my responses to a minimum to avoid causing any issues. Sending my words in an uninterrupted block has taken away the fear of causing an issue. It’s well known that keeping things bottled up inside is not healthy, and can cause problems.
I’m not trying to keep my cortisol levels consistently high! I like to think of my paragraphs as my first line of defense against making myself literally sick with rage. When I feel something these days, I say it.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
