As a long time writer, editor, PR person (yada yada yada) I can promise you that one major not-so-secret secret any pro will confirm is that the White Space of any piece is a critical element if you would like others to read and understand it.

“White Space” is the highly technical term (*that’s a joke btw!) for the empty parts in a written piece. The margins, the headings, the blank spaces.

Having the right ratio of White Space to TEXT makes so much difference in the reader/viewers ability to engage, understand and be interested in reading what you’ve worked so very hard to write.

You can have the “best” or “most important” or “exciting” or “astounding” content to deliver – but people most typically can only really receive your brilliant information if you’re serving it up in a manner that allows them to actually listen.

Otherwise your great wisdom will be overlooked, ignored, misunderstood or just plain drowned out by the “noise” of clutter.

I’m so very weary of clutter. Physically, emotionally, technologically.

I am craving some white space in my life as a whole. I need the calm it provides. I need to be able to listen to what is important. To find time to hear that still small voice…

And I need to clear a path so that the things I need to communicate can be heard. I have to be sure that the importance of a message I believe in doesn’t get lost while I rant. That it doesn’t disappear in a sea of words about silly things.

And – most of all – I have to check myself, again and again, to be sure that whatever I find so important I want to share it – I’m doing it wrapped in love. Not self-interest… not personal agenda… but true, honest, love. 

That’s easy to do with people who agree with me. More difficult with those who don’t. But of course that is when it’s most important…

I do dream of a White Christmas (not likely to have in Florida!) but much more important to me is that during this time, and in fact ALL year long, I dream of being “perfect in speech” (again, not likely – but a cool goal!).