1. That Split Second
Have you ever woken up feeling more rested than you have in months—only to realize, just seconds later, you overslept?
There’s this rare kind of peace that settles over you before the day starts. Your mind is still, your limbs heavy, your thoughts clear. For a moment, everything feels okay. Like maybe—just maybe—this is the day everything clicks into place.
But then your eyes adjust to the light. The sun is up. The room is too bright. There’s no sound.
And just like that, the stillness is replaced by a jolt of panic.
What time is it?
Is it the weekend? A workday?
Why didn’t I wake up to my alarm?
Did I turn it off in my sleep? Is my phone dead?
That moment—that whiplash between grounded and disoriented—is something most people have felt but don’t talk about. Not because it’s rare, but because it’s so easily dismissed.
But the words we use to describe that moment?
They matter more than we realize.
Because “I overslept” and “I slept in” are not the same thing.
2. Sleeping In vs. Oversleeping
When you say you slept in, you’re admitting you knew what time it was, but chose to ignore it. That your rest came at the cost of someone else’s expectation. That you exercised a choice that prioritized yourself—consciously or otherwise.
But “I overslept”? That’s a very different signal.
It implies you intended to wake up.
That your body made the call without your permission.
It carries a different emotional weight—a different accountability.
We say these phrases like they’re interchangeable, but one suggests selfishness.
The other signals a mistake.
And even when we don’t mean to send a message, we always are.
That’s the thing about language—
it creates subtext whether you intend it to or not.And often, what people hear is shaped more by the words you choose than the truth you meant to convey.
3. Words as Instruments: In Life and in Finance
Sometimes, terms like cash and money market are used like they mean the same thing.
But in practice? They don’t.
And that distinction can create costly misunderstandings—especially in financial services.
Cash is the most liquid money in an account. It’s already settled. Readily available. You can move it to a client’s bank account with no trade, no delay.
A money market position, however, is an investment vehicle—still low risk, but not immediately accessible. In order to distribute those funds, the position has to be traded, and the trade has to settle. That takes time—usually a day or two.
That timing matters. A lot.
Let’s say a client reaches out on Thursday and says they need cash in their bank account by Friday to buy a car over the weekend. They tell you it’s “in cash.” You take their word for it.
But when you go to process the request, you realize—it’s actually in a money market fund. And now? It’s too late to trade and settle before the weekend.
The result?
- A missed opportunity
- A delay in plans
- A potential dent in trust
The client thought their language was accurate.
The advisor thought the language was reliable.
But the difference in definition changed the outcome entirely.
This is the cost of imprecision.
Not just in dollars—
But in trust, in timing, in relationships.
4. Intention in Everyday Speech
For a long time, I didn’t think much about how I texted. It was just… how I communicate.
But then I realized—it’s actually a reflection of how I think.
I write out full words. I use punctuation. I pause where I would pause if I were speaking to you in person.
I format my thoughts deliberately because, to me, that’s how you show care. It’s how you give someone access to your internal world without forcing them to guess what you meant.
Back when I was on dating apps—
past tense, because I’ve stepped away from all of that—
I’d get messages commenting on how “proper” or “intentional” my texts were.
Some people loved it. Others found it intimidating.
But either way, it filtered things.
It wasn’t about being formal.
It was about being clear.
I wanted the words I chose to match what I meant.
Not just because it helped other people understand me—
But because it helped me understand myself.
Language isn’t just about being understood by others.
It’s also about not betraying yourself.
When we rush through communication, abbreviate everything, or leave things unsaid, we leave room for assumption to step in.
And assumption?
Assumption will build an entire narrative around half a sentence and a missing period.
Every time we fail to communicate intentionally,
We risk handing over control of the narrative—
To someone who wasn’t even supposed to be holding the pen.
© 2025 Kimberly Beth Thomas. All rights reserved.
🗣️ Let’s keep the conversation going.
If this piece made you pause—or made you feel seen—I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment, share the post, or reach out with your own stories.
Because language doesn’t just connect us—it defines us.
Like this post?
Catch up on the rest of the series:
👈 Part 1: Emotional Landmines — The Myth of Perfect Love
👈 Part 2: The Water We Swim In — What Misalignment Really Means
👉 Part 4: Through the Lens of Limitation – Redefining the Precision of Misunderstanding
Disclosure:
The content contained herein reflects the personal views and opinions of the author and is provided for general informational purposes only. This publication is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, financial planning advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or to adopt any investment strategy. Nothing contained herein creates an advisory relationship, and the author is not acting in any fiduciary or advisory capacity through this publication. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of any current or former employer, affiliate, or associated entity.