Edits

A healthy person welcomes edits from their trusted sources, interactions that involve mutual respect and honesty.  There's no room for resentment because a healthy person realizes that corrections are not a personal attack, no reason to act defensively. 

We should seek out edits - er, feedback - and also offer them - it's a way to perform at a higher level.  Wanting to improve is not a weakness.

These are some of the thoughts I've had this week, as the campus emptied out due to Spring Break, and I had more time for trusted friends and reflection.  The value of candor, the caring criticism, is important for growth and the pursuit of excellence.  I like the details - and sometimes that is all I have, the words, and proper edits can make those words pop.

My wonderful DIL2B and son asked me for some wedding edits this week.  Nothing much at all - but it was such a gift to have their trust as I corrected a grammatical word or two.  When someone asks for your edits, they trust you and that "gift" they give when asking for your help feels less about getting the answers and more about knowing they can be vulnerable with you.  We know that the most important thing to consider when writing is the various perspectives of the target audience.  But what about your proofreaders?  The message you send when you ask for an edit is that you are willing to share your very best with someone and all you ask is that they improve it.