I was thinking the other day about how information helps you to make better choices.

I frequent Starbucks quite a bit, especially when traveling.  THE best thing that Starbucks has done, for me, is to post the calories for the delectable treats you have to stand by when ordering your coffee.

My favorite was their reduced fat berry cake which they discontinued before the calorie posting started. It had 350 calories – pretty hard to work off when eaten in addition 3 meals.  And I frequently succumbed to the temptation.

But not so much any more (sorry, Starbucks) because seeing the calories on that little sign helps me to make more informed choices and now I walk away most of the time.

Another recent addition to my arsenal of information is my Fitbit. I am amazed at how few steps I can take on days with long hearings at the legislature. I had one the other day – 3.5 hours in one chair … that really takes a toll on the day’s step count. Having the Fitbit provides me information to make choices … like walking around the legislative building a time or two or making up for the lack of exercise later that day or week.

All of this got me to thinking about how awesome it would be if we could have more information about the impact of things we say to other people.

Often, we don’t have a clue … because the other person feels whatever it is inside and doesn’t reveal it to us. Wouldn’t it be great to know though?  That way, if we offended someone or said the right thing that boosted their spirits, we would have more information for the future – for how to do it better next time.

I, for one, would love to know.

Jeanette