My inner voice was swearing like a sailor.
Most people have an inner voice, don’t they? That voice they hear, when they’re thinking about things?
People I know might be surprised my inner voice was swearing, since, usually, I’m measuring my words, all the time. I’ve worked in PR, that’s why I’m always measuring.
My inner voice probably was doing its sailor routine, because of — what else? — all the aggravating news I was reading. Almost everything that inner voice of mine had to say began with ‘What a bunch of…’ or ‘What a pile of…’ I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.
I’ve come to terms with my inner voice’s speaking style differing, considerably, from my measured manner of speaking to family, friends and just about everyone else. But I’ve always wondered about other people. About their inner voice.
About people in the clergy, for example. Would a pastor’s inner voice ever start a sentence with ‘What a pile of’ something or other?
Business jargon? Is that what business executives are hearing in their heads? Is a musician’s inner voice usually humming tunes? And government officials? One can only imagine what their inner voices are saying. What do you suppose your town and county officials’ inner voices are saying, during meetings with their Pagosa and Archuleta County constituents?
I guess the question is… When inner voices are talking, are people entirely different people?
If we could just tune in. Wouldn’t that be amusing?
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.