Gossip is such an integral part of everyday life, it becomes routine.
It starts with "small talk" or chats about the weather and turns into in-depth conversations about driving in snowstorms or the tsk-tsk'ing at others. There is such a fine line between socially acceptable chit chat and full blown dramatic gossip.
It is so very hard to balance on this line, it becomes an extreme conscious method when you are trying to avoid it.
For a few weeks now I have been following conversations (not exactly eavesdropping because I am included) and have been noting the progress. It is somewhat like a case of Broken Telephone, twisted and mangled. It becomes exaggerated and overblown over the course it travels.
It creates chaos as it travels as well, sweeping along a path of destruction. I have unfortunately been swept along with some of these, and have travelled along the path.
Sadly most of these are negative discussions, but recently a swarm of positivity has engulfed us. Hearing fabulous comments and supportive ideas from the community has generated waves of warmth.
We have recently printed a few advertisements that put the true facts about the Herald out to the community. It has turned a tide, literally. Masses of emails, texts, phone calls.
Stopped in the street by acquaintances to tell me how "smart that was!" I try to share the comments as they come in, as everyone at the Herald deserves this recognition as so many are behind-the-scenes employees.
To have daily doses of encouragement and praise makes your work day absolutely enjoyable. I work in sales, and by the simple laws of percentages I hear many "no's" for each "yes", and this can soon get discouraging if you take it personally.
Instead, I have made a conscious decision to take all the good gossip personally, and all the "no's" as just the daily course of business.
What interesting times at the Herald. I am so glad to be a part of the evolution of our community newspaper.
