The Power of Words

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me!....NOT!

Who came up with that?! And who really believes it?! Yeah that's what our Moms taught us when we were kids and the neighborhood bully was calling us fatty or stupido. Mom said don't let her get to you, you're better than that. But words do have power: to hurt, to degrade, to deflate. But also to heal, to motivate, to inspire. To make us laugh.
I think some people don't realize just how much power spoken words have.

The spoken word goes out there. It vibrates off your eardrums, travels to your brain and settles into your stomach or heart. Someone says something. You have an internal response. 
Songs are sung. Isn't that the same thing? Sometimes a song will just wrap itself around my heart. There is a love song about how  we've been together since way back when, and how some people are made for each other. Those songs were written for me and my husband! My son graduated high school with Rod Stewart telling him he'd be forever young. And my daughter sets off on every new adventure with me bidding her I hope you dance. The landslide may bring me down, but courage is what starts a new day. Of course when I hear some of that old time rock and roll, I can't help but want to dance. The einsy weinsy spider and all of old McDonalds friends bring back happy childhood memories. Words make a song and, in turn, create a powerful message for us to hear.

I think sometimes people don't  realize how powerful the written word is. It sits there in black and white. The letters of each word dance before your eyes. The message can do many things to us also. It taunts, inspires, soothes, angers It lingers and rolls around your brain.  There's this thing my husband calls email balls. You know the kind of chutzpah I'm talking about. Like when a family member decides to tell you some news, then adds some personal commentary. Sometimes it'll be on a happy note,but if it's in the form of an email, it's probably going to take a negative turn. Words written in anger turn to words spoken in anger.Texting can have the same effect. My sister and I text on occasion. It started as random hellos and guess who I ran into and remember when's. But recently it turned bad. I was unable to attend an event. She texted me that I was a disappointment. What a strong word that is. Disappointment. Written words. Words do hurt, maybe even worse than sticks and stones. When physically struck, you feel the pain and it stings. You may develop a lovely colored bruise. You may even have a broken bone! But the bruise will fade, or the bones will knit. But the written word? It still sits there in black and white. Even if you delete it, you can still picture the letters forming those words. 

I like to read. I always say sometimes that the best book is one where you can get totally lost in the story. Let's say you are sitting in your comfy chair in the middle of summer, and it's a heat wave, but the book you're reading is about a snowstorm. If you look out your window and expect to see snow falling, then that is a good book. Those written words take you away. Those written words are just as powerful, yet they are a positive force. I have read a few inspirational books lately. Makes me realize I'm glad to be alive, and makes me want to be a good person. Read a few mysteries and historical fiction. Keeps my brain working and learning. Looking for a good humor book. I need to have a laugh everyday. Like I always say sometimes: laugh or go crazy. 

Words do so much to us and for us. It's important to choose what you say or write carefully with an awareness of the effect it will have on others. If we have a choice, it is important to choose what we listen to or read, and avoid any harsh comments. It's sometimes hard to filter it out here in my comfy chair. But I won't allow anything to rattle the foundation of my Shalom Babayit.