When have you taken a bite of a food that you’d typically appreciate based upon the ingredients yet were disappointed in the way it tasted?
What went wrong?
Perhaps the lingering effects of something you had in your mouth prior to eating remained on your tastebuds and didn’t mingle well with the newly introduced flavor.
I had that sensation recently with some fresh, in-season cantaloupe. While cutting into the supple, bright-orange melon, I assumed that the fruit was perfectly ripe. Upon putting a piece in my mouth, however, I wondered why the flesh tasted bland, as if it were from the green part next to the rind.
It took me a moment to realize that the minty aftermath of toothpaste on my breath was obscuring the sweet taste of summer that I’d anticipated. After sip of water and a smidgen of sourdough bread to neutralize the mint, the cantaloupe was delicious!
To prevent some flavors from overpowering or altering others, certain foods, such as parsley and sorbet, are traditionally served to cleanse the palate between courses. Likewise, crackers and cheeses are standard offerings at wine tastings. The practices are particularly important when sampling new flavors. Otherwise, first impressions can be distorted, possibly eliminating any desire to give the misunderstood food or beverage a second chance.
The concept provides food for thought about the other main function of our mouths: speaking.
Bob: Have you met the new sales director?
Jan: No, I haven’t, but I’m impressed with her bio and LinkedIn profile.
Bob: Did you see that she spent five years with Castleton? The timeline shows she left a few months before they were exposed for bribing those county commissioners to win the contract for the rec center.
Jan: Well, there were insinuations, but no one produced evidence. I always thought the narrative was driven by a competitor that had its own problems and went out of business. Even if the deal lacked some transparency, we don’t know that Madeline Reynolds was involved in anything sketchy.
Bob: Jan, let’s not be naïve. She oversaw every bid. And then she left the company.
Jan: But does that make her guilty of bribing anyone? Also, Castleton did a beautiful job and came in under budget.
Bob: All eyes were on Castleton. They had to maneuver to escape suspicion. Letting her go was also a wise move. And where did she end up after Castleton? Enfield! That’s her brother-in-law’s company. She was given a safe refuge until the dust settled.
Jan: Wow, Bob, you’re quite the investigator. The board should have put you on their executive search team. I guess I’m having second thoughts about Ms. Reynolds.
Beth, come over here. Bob just shared some interesting intel on our new sales director.
***
At Madeline’s first meeting with the fellow directors:
Bob (exchanging a quick look with Jan): Madeline Reynolds, I’d like to introduce you to Jan Moore, our marketing director. Jan, meet Madeline, our new director of sales.
Jan (with the slightest hint of sarcasm in her voice): I’ve heard so much about you, Madeline.
=
Participating in conversations about people we either haven’t yet met or don’t know well can greatly influence our opinions of them—without having any meaningful opportunities to experience and assess their character and intentions.
More Food for Thought
- At times, we might need to research people’s backgrounds, such as to decide whom to elect for a political office. If our trusted sources are noticeably one sided, should we rely solely on them?
It might be prudent to seek out other reliable voices for different or more well-rounded perspectives to help us make up our minds.
- When others are offering their opinions, are we absorbing their assertions without question? Should we be careful about actively participating in the fray, resulting in fortifying and adopting views from hearsay?
Our own words exert tremendous power over our subconscious mind. Thus, in addition to refraining from speculating aloud to others, we should also watch what we say quietly to ourselves.
- Rather than rushing to conclusions, should we pause to digest information before acting on it?
Exercising discernment can help us better recognize what holds true and what doesn’t.
Interestingly, with all the measures we might take to be fair, even analytic, in deciding whom to like, trust, etc., when it’s all said and done, our gut instincts often have the final say.
No matter what sort of feedback guides us, we’re always wise to consider what we should share and what we should keep to ourselves.
Sallie W. Boyles, a.k.a. Write Lady
Thoughts or questions? Please contact Sallie Boyles, owner of Write Lady Inc., to exchange ideas about effective communications and gain from professional writing and editing services. Receive monthly tips and insights by subscribing at https://WriteLady.com.
