A time-out helps separate people from the problem.
Words surrender as we fall silent, sitting on the hard wood floor. Adding more might raise the volume, piling up into an argument. Adding little content, over which each thinks the other overlooks.
Standing hardens the silence and frames a door for excusing presence. Standing up signals a desire to end and silent plea to begin again. Let’s go our way, gain perspective attending to other issues of the day.
This afternoon, we can circle back to where—not as—we were. Where the topic’s wiggled a natural place in my pile of priorities. Where we hear each other by peering. Me into your world; you, into mine.
