Toothpaste

One night in July at a children's summer camp, the campers were gathered around in a circle for their nighttime devotions. The counselor asked if any of the children wanted to share something that had happened that day that impacted them. One camper raised their hand and said someone from another camp cabin had said something that hurt their feelings and it was really upsetting.

The camp counselor went to the bathroom to grab a tube of toothpaste. She took the tube and squeezed it just a bit, so some toothpaste came out. She then tried to put the toothpaste back in the tube, but it just created a mess. Then she squeezed the tube even more, pushing more toothpaste out and creating even more of a mess, but none of it would go back into the tube.

The counselor then told the young campers, “This toothpaste represents the words you speak. Once you say something, it’s impossible to take the words back and it only creates a mess. Think carefully before you speak and make sure your words are going to good use before you let them out.”

Author Unknown

Source: The School of Practical Philosophy