24-hour Rule

So, Michael is going through ups and downs with a woman. A woman who is very much like Stephanie, we agree: intense, argumentative, bull-headed, blind to her own flaws, hyper-critical to the point of being hypocritical, and yet, loving, earthy, charming, and funny. They are on again and off again, and he's finally reached a place where he is really ready to call it quits for good. Unable to get ahold of her this weekend, he composed an email and told me he was going to send it.

I gave him some unsolicited advice, telling him about my
24-hour Rule:

Write it, then wait 24 hours.
If, this time tomorrow, you still want to send it, then waiting won't have changed anything.
And if, this time tomorrow, you don't still want to send it, then waiting will have changed everything.

He told me that was good advice. I told him I try to follow it, as I find it a very effective form of impulse control. It also reduces the need for damage control, as it is hard to take such things back. There are times when I have not remembered to use it, and I've regretted it, especially with regards to him. God we've had some horrid arguments because I lost track of his thoughts and feelings when I was so wrapped up in my own, and I just fired off something biting and hurtful instead of waiting. Ah well. It is a good reminder to myself to keep that rule in force when I am upset.