Getting That Foot Back Out of Your Mouth

Not long ago, I found myself in the company of an intelligent woman I like but don't know well. I used a word she was unfamiliar with and asked me to define.

"Let us pause and reflect upon this moment!" I joked. "You're so smart, I never thought I'd say a word you hadn't heard."

Everyone laughed--as they should have--but, later, I began to wonder whether maybe she saw my remark as mean. There's a simple solution to problems like these: speak!

Next time I see her, I plan to mention the episode right away and reassure her that I meant nothing nasty. She probably knows, but it won't hurt to make sure. (If I didn't expect to see her soon, or we knew each other better, I would simply call or email. It's usually best to do these things quickly.) After all, the key to interpersonal relationships is...communication.

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