Time-release Emails

Some (OK, 99% of people who know me) would say I am an impetuous person. [Side note: I have been out of school for awhile so I looked up impetuous just to make sure it was the right word. The definition was "marked by impulsive vehemence or passion." Yep, that's the right word all right!] Email was not made for such people.

Problem is, not only do impetuous people respond to emails without thinking, the person who receives it now has a permanent, written record of their words. This happens to me a lot. Like yesterday, I got a message from someone who sits on my homeowners association board with me. I was offended by their tone and what I believed they were insinuating in the message and I let loose about it (and cc'd several others on the response).

About 10 minutes after I hit send the regret set in. An hour later I was quite stressed about it and by bedtime I couldn't sleep. Then today each time I checked my email I had to hold my breath to see who was going to write back next and how they were going to interpret the message. I think I am about done the damage control and will keep these relationships intact but it wasn't a fun 24 hours.

Each time this happens I vow it will be the last. I try, I really do but some personalities just weren't made for email. I believe I will have to adapt though because something tells me this form of communication isn't going to go the way of the 8-track tape. So I'll wait patiently for the email "queue to send" feature in the near future.