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MAXIMize the Moment Volume 1, Issue 32

MAXIMize the Moment Volume 1, Issue 32

June 3, 2002
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MAXIMize the Moment

Now it's time to MAXIMize the Moment!

"I hate Lucy! She's always flirting with Harry. He's my boyfriend, not hers! She's always talking with him and they have all these inside jokes and everything. I keep telling him to stay away from her, but he says that they're just friends and that she's really nice. He doesn't believe me, but I know that she's after him. She's such a witch! Actually, she's just pathetic. She can't get a man of her own, so she has to try to steal mine."

Suddenly, I realize Lucy and Harry have walked in together. He seems angry and she looks really hurt. Normally, I'd be upset to see them together, but I get the sense that I'm the one who's done the wrong thing.

"Rebecca, we need to talk," Harry says. He's irate.

When we get the chance to be alone, Harry lets me know why he's so mad: "Rebecca, her grandmother is dying. She found out a couple of months ago and she's totally upset about it. Lucy thought I'd be a good person to talk to because my grandfather died from cancer last year. She's not telling many people because her mom is totally in denial and doesn't want anyone to know. Lucy only came to me because she had to talk to someone, but you and Chloe keep giving her the cold shoulder. She was actually worried that you'd be upset about us spending time together. I told her that you weren't so petty. I guess I was wrong." After he's finished talking, Harry walks out of the room without even looking at me.

What have I done? Not only have I upset Harry, who I really care about, I've also been really awful to Lucy. She really needed me and I treated her terribly. Suddenly, I understand what my mother has been telling me. It reminds me of that quote we have to translate in Latin class this year, "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."

I wish that I'd never said those spiteful things or that I could undo it. I will try to apologize, but I don't know if Harry or Lucy will want to listen to me. I can't blame them. One thing I can do, though, is to be more careful of what I say and how I say it. I don't want to keep hurting other people. I will have to learn to keep silent sometimes, so I don't have to regret what I have said.

This week's maxim is "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."

Teacher Information

Maxim

  • "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence."
    Publilius Syrus

Featured character trait

  • Caring-I recognize that my actions affect others and I try to do what is best for them.

Character points (for substitution if this week's trait isn't one of your school's core values)

  • Concern for others-I care about others and want them to be happy.
  • Empathy-I am able to see the world through others' eyes and feel what they are feeling.
  • Compassion-I am willing to enter into the suffering of others and I try to ease their pain.
  • Love-I strive to do what is best for others because I care deeply about them.
  • Decency-I behave in a way that is consistent with the values of my community and its ideals.
  • Humility-I realize that I am not perfect; I am able to acknowledge my faults and wrongdoings, and I try to make them right.

Discussion starters / journal writing prompts

  • Does this week's story seem realistic?
  • Does Rebecca have a right to "get out" her anger at Lucy?
  • What would have been a kinder and more productive way for her to have done that? List some other ways Rebecca might have dealt with the situation.
  • Imagine that Lucy really was after Harry. Would it have then been appropriate for Rebecca to do what she did? How could she handle that situation?
  • Let's say you're friends with both Lucy and Rebecca. How can you be supportive of Rebecca when she's upset without encouraging her to be witchy? without getting put in the middle and having it affect your friendship with Lucy?
  • What do you think this week's maxim means?
  • Do you agree with it?
  • Is it true in all cases? Are there times when "silence" is the wrong?
  • How can you tell the difference between times when you should speak your mind and times you should stay silent?

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