The first thing that popped into my head when I read this prompt was “excuses.” I don’t know whether it was something told to me as I was growing up or an opinion I came to on my own but I think voicing excuses is a futile exercise. It doesn’t help me to name them and it isn’t helpful to the listener to hear them. Instead I should use the information learned from an experience to try something different. I don’t always succeed in leaving my excuses unsaid – especially in the company of close friends, but I try and wish to keep it a goal.
What should never be left unsaid is “I’m sorry” or “thank you.”
wake up and write 
February 25th, 2014 at 9:31 am
Making excuses is something we all do, but it often gets in the way. I try to think beyond the excuse to hear what is really going on. Especially with my students.
February 25th, 2014 at 9:33 am
So true! I need to repeat this post to myself a few (dozen) times. My sister and I just had a conversation about how we were encouraged as children not to express “mushy” feelings — i.e. not to tell our family members we loved them. Definitely something that should never be left unsaid!
Looking forward to catching up with you for the March challenge!
February 25th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
For some reason, I’ve been noticing excuses a lot, lately. They seem to be on my radar, and now that they are, I notice a LOT of people give excuses a LOT of the time. Interesting that you wrote about them today.