Just a few days ago, I asked a friend and business partner to peruse a document we had prepared for an upcoming event. As we are very comfortable with each other, he asked if it was ok to change the spacing after each period. I was like, “WHAT?” He then explained he had recently learned that one space after a sentence is proper, not two.

I was immediately baffled. Not only had I never heard this, as long as I can remember, I had been taught that using two spaces after a period was the way you do it.

Then, thoughts rushed through my head. How could I have missed this information? Was my friend joking with me, had he been misinformed? How long have I been sending emails, writing letters, and sending documents that are grammatically erroneous? The whole topic piqued my interest, so I researched it over the weekend.

Here is what I discovered:  There are passionate “experts” with opinions supporting both sides of the critical one space, two space debate and they are both quite compelling, and maybe even a bit confusing.

Life seems to be full of “experts” that have a lot to say about a lot of things. Whether it’s another approach to losing weight, finding happiness, or making money, you can find an authority willing to give you advice on anything, and just like the “spacing after period” problem, it can get pretty sticky when wanting real answers.

So did you know you are your own greatest expert? Surprising? Do the research. Be willing to explore it for yourself. Get quiet and listen to what emerges. When you are confused, settling in stillness and creating the space allows for the answers to come. You will know what to do in any given moment, no matter your circumstance.

And if you’re wondering about my findings on proper spacing after a period, I concluded that both approaches are generally accepted (the debate continues). It really doesn’t matter which way you go, which sounds a lot like life and a topic for another day.