I have decided that, sometimes, it is better to just shut up. To not say anything at all. To say nothing.

When people call you stupid, sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut, to neither disprove or support their claims.When people say racial slurs towards you, it is sometimes better to just keep your mouth closed. To neither tell them that they are ignorant or wrong. When your friend asks if she or he looks terrible on that day, it is sometimes better to just keep your mouth shut. To neither tell them that they look bad, or to lie about how they look.

Sometimes, it is better to just shut up. I have learned that there are moments when my voice needs to be heard and my opinion is valued. But, there are other moments: times where my thoughts should not be expressed, because in doing so, I will only inflict more pain upon myself and those around me. In these moments, my opinion is not valued.

I do like expressing my opinions with other people, but I have learned that in keeping my mouth shut about some things, I have gained more respect from those people around me. When I do decide to say something, it has greater meaning. People who blab their mouths all the time start to become annoying, and their opinions are deemed to be less valuable. With words, less is more. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still correct people when they call me stupid or use racial slurs. But, in speaking more wisely and using more meaningful words when I do speak, I have found that my confrontation becomes stronger.

Think about what you are going to say for some period of time before voicing your opinion. When you do decide to voice your opinion, it will most likely be a better constructed argument and will grasp more people's attention rather than if you were to speak abruptly in the moment. This has been something that has worked great for me for the last semester of college and has gotten me extra close with my professors, family members, and close friends.I hope that in the heat of a moment, it will work for you as well.

Take a deep breath, shut up, and think about what you’re going to say for a bit. Then, speak eloquently.