I SWEAR…I’M QUITTING!
Somehow I acquired the habit of swearing when I was a teen. Four-letter words began to not only fill my vocabulary, but spring from my mouth. I don’t know why this happened. My parents don’t swear; my older siblings don’t swear, and most of my close friends don’t swear. Even the group I hung around with during my middle and high school years didn’t swear on a regular basis. But I do and I’m not proud of this (nor is my family).
I have ADD (attention deficit disorder) and swearing has been known to be prevalent with people with this disorder. But I won’t blame my mouth on this. I believe I have a bad habit and I’m working real hard to break this habit. Luckily, I have kept my swearing in check at work and in most professional/public situations. It’s at home or when I have a few drinks that I have the most problem. And I’ve learned the hard way, that even at home, I have to curtail my barrage of bad words.
I’m 23 years of age and I know better. I, however, got mad at my mother a few weeks ago and used the worst of worst words with her. (You know which one I mean!) My mother was so hurt; my father, who overheard my utterance, was furious. He quickly took me by my arm and led me straight out the front door and said, “If you can’t talk like a lady, you’re not welcome here.” It was just above freezing outside and I was in jeans and a light top. My dad locked the door on me. I stood outside shivering and in shock. I had never seen my dad this mad.
At first I was pissed (see these words just come out), but I soon realized that my dad was right. I need to talk like the educated woman I am and not like a truck driver.
(I’ve always wondered if all truck drivers swear because many times over the years, I’ve heard those who swear compared to individuals in this occupation.)
I rang the doorbell. As my mom and dad opened the door, I apologized and said I would really try to clean up my verbal act. My parents kissed and hugged me and offered to help me in this quest.
I’ve heard that it takes three weeks to make or break a habit. It’s now been three weeks and I’m doing pretty well thinking before I speak, even when I’m upset. I’ve thought bad words a lot, but, most of the time, they have been staying inside of my head instead of coming out of my mouth. I’ve learned that I like myself better because of this new-found self-control. And my family and friends likes me better, too!
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www.wikihow.com/Stop-Swearing
www.homemakingcottage.com/lady/stop_swearing.htm