Published Feb 12, 2021 by Rick Cundiff
“What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.”
That, of course, is the classic line from the movie “Cool Hand Luke.” But it’s also an apt description of much of our daily lives.
Think about it. How many conversations do you have in a day? How many do you remember? How many did you really listen to?
Now consider how often you’re frustrated at home, at work or in everyday situations. So many things that could be fixed by people simply paying attention, right? For some folks, a whisper would be enough. Others need a billboard.
That’s where custom patches come in. Those little pieces of cloth or vinyl are that billboard. Have you ever misunderstood something you read on a patch?
Didn’t think so.
If you see a 3-piece patch with the name of a motorcycle club on the back of a leather jacket, you get it. You’re not going to go up to the wearer and say, “Excuse me bud, what’s that about?”
When you see a patch that reads “Vietnam Veteran,” you understand the gravity of everything that patch signifies.
When you see a comical patch that makes you laugh, you relax around the wearer. (See Sloth With Donut, above.)
The point is, custom patches aren’t ambiguous – unless you want them to be, of course. A little mystery is good sometimes, too.
The bottom line is that patches can say whatever you want. However you want to communicate, whatever you want to say, custom patches are a viable way to do it. They’re a way to express who you are.
Let’s say for example that you’re that biker mentioned above. Chances are, even if you are not a member of a one-percent club (look for the patch!), you’ll be wearing more than one patch. You might identify as hardcore conservative. Maybe you’re solidly liberal. Or anywhere in between. Maybe you have an offbeat sense of humor you want to show off. If you choose to tell the world via jacket patches, you’re likely to find your tribe, you dig?
Patches are a tool, in the end, a mini-billboard you wear. Consider what you want to say, then go for it. Any time you want to speak your mind, we’re here.
Now, about those listening skills … that’s a topic for another blog, another time.
