Minding our "Buts"

In the classic movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, one of the most memorable scenes involves Pee Wee trying to inspire a waitress to follow her dream of moving to Paris, which goes comically awry. 

Pee Wee:       Simone, this is your dream. You have to follow it.

Simone:          I know you’re right, but…

Pee Wee:       But what? Everyone I know has a big “but.” C’mon, Simone, let’s talk about your big “but.”

(Simone’s boyfriend overhears this conversation, and subsequently chases Pee Wee in a murderous rage).
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Despite falling a hair short of cinematic brilliance, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure stumbled onto something profound: the word “but” is a curse that hurts communication and undermines relationships.

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