John Y’s Musings from the Middle: Don’t Blame the Messenger

Don’t blame the messenger.

Unless it is Stevie Wonder.

We hear that a lot. It means focus on the message rather than the messenger.

Someone may be relaying an unpopular message and shouldn’t get the blame.

But not always.

For example, when you are trying to resolve a problem and can’t reach compromise and someone tells you to just “Work it out.”

It’s good advice and we shouldn’t blame the messenger even though we will likely feel irritated at getting this advice.

BUT….But if we listen to Stevie Wonder singing about it….everything changes.

Suddenly working it out doesn’t sound like such a sacrifice and sounds like more of a celebration. And we want to actually work it out.

And we have Stevie Wonder, the messenger, not to blame but to thank.

At least that’s the way it works on me.