How often does never happen? What about always?  We hear people say they would never shop at that store or they always tell the truth.  But really, how often can they be right?

It is difficult to attach extreme words to any statement and have that statement stand the test of time.  If you always have a coffee on Friday mornings, what happens when you miss one?  If you never take out the trash, is it all better when you remember without being told?

It seems that never and always are words that imply a different meaning depending on who spoke them and who hears them.  To me, if you say that you will never do that again, you are lying because how can you know the future.  A better response is that you are sorry and will do your best to make sure it never happens.  Subtle, but important change in wording.  In the former, you are confident about the future; in the latter, you understand how fallible people are and that all we can do is give it our best.  Same with always.

Never and always rarely happen in the real world.  It is time for our words to reflect reality.