This weekend I will be tactful

When I really concentrate, I can be tactful. But mostly, I'm a fairly dry sarcastic person. While I try to be playful with it, sometimes it must be downright annoying. So this weekend, I'm attempting to be completely tactful.

Millions of jokes and stand-up routines have been written over the years regarding tact. They usually start with a line like this: "My wife says to me, 'Honey, does this dress make me look fat?'" Immediately we recognize an opportunity to crack wise about the dress, the wife, the situation, the punishment for the smart remark. This can be milked for a lot of laughs. In a comedy club, we expect the sarcasm.

But in real life, if a situation like this presents itself, we have a golden opportunity to display tact. How would we do that though? Some would say just keep your mouth shut. That works if the question isn't too important. You can redirect the conversation. You have to be careful with that technique because people will assume the worst if you ignore the question.

Probably the best thing would be to answer honestly and helpfully. Be sincere and be careful about hurting them.

I like lists, so let's do a list. To be tactful, I will:

1) consider my words before I utter them
2) make that tough decision about keeping quiet or speaking
3) bite my tongue when that cutting remark bubbles up from the depths of my cruel mind
4) think about how others are feeling
5) think about how I would want to be treated in a similar situation

So, no shooting from the hip with my first thoughts or opinions. If I see something that irritates me, I'll either keep quiet or calmly explain what is bothering me with an eye toward fixing the problem. I have no desire to upset anyone, so I'll behave accordingly.

Anyone have ideas on how to develop the habit of tact? Anyone else have a problem with sarcasm?