Write the angry reply, then leave it in your notes app until tomorrow. Tomorrow you is a better editor.

STILLNESS

WHAT THIS MEANS

Anger is excellent at drafting and terrible at deciding. It supplies energy and precision about what hurt, and none of the judgment about what should actually be sent. A day does not soften your position, it removes the part of the sentence that was only there to wound.

Write it in full, because the writing itself discharges a great deal. Then park it somewhere it cannot be sent by accident. Read it back in the morning and keep whatever still seems true, which is usually about a third of it.

A QUESTION TO SIT WITH

Would tomorrow’s version of you send that reply tonight?

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