If you think about it, “why didn’t you do so-and-so?” is a supremely useless question. Irritating, too. I was reminded of this idea Sunday when I met up with my husband in downtown Denver. Parking was problematic, to say the least. Jim ended up parking in a pretty expensive lot across the Convention Center. I started to say, “Why didn’t you just park on the street?” And then I stopped myself. Why ask? Obviously if there had been a spot he’d have grabbed it. But what if there had been a plum spot right in front? (Which there wasn’t.) So what? He’d already parked in a paid lot. The deed was done. At that point it was moot.
And I got to thinking about how often I tend to ask that useless, irritating question. It’s a way of second-guessing people and, I think, trying to show my own superior knowledge. What I’m really asking is, “Why didn’t you do it the way I would have?”
So I’m glad that I (for once) restrained myself. If I had, it wouldn’t have ruined our lovely afternoon. But it would have been a little grain of sand in the gears.
Do you ever ask this question? How can you stop yourself?