What words are you using? Do you think about the words you say to yourself in those long pauses or difficult moments? What words do you tell your husband or wife? Is it uplifting or critical? What do you whisper to your son or daughter? Are you yelling or talking to them constructively? What are you conveying to your friends? Are you talking about ideas or engaging in gossip? Words make a difference. Although I rarely do this on my site, I thought this two minute video was worth a watch. Click on the Power of Words.
Thanks Trish for choosing to bring this video to my attention. Watch it. And understand the power of your own words.
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Words can make us or break us.
That made me cry. Good tears. Thank you so much for linking to it for us. It’s all in our message, isn’t it?
This is so true…words are far, far more powerful than some would have us believe. There are words that were said to me YEARS ago that will never leave me, some good, some not so much. Words I’ve spoken that I regret. I need to be more aware of my words, and how I use them.
I catch myself saying things to my kids that I really shouldn’t on an almost daily basis. I try to give myself credit for recognizing the nagging, disapproving tone, and I like to think I’m improving. But. I wish there were nothing to improve.
PS: I almost didn’t watch the video, but I’m so glad I did.
What if I hadn’t read your post today? This was the most beautiful video I’ve ever seen.
Thank you so much for this, Rudri. For someone who makes both a career and hobby out of words, I am negligent in how I communicate with my husband and child. I’m often too critical, too short, too disapproving…I am so grateful you posted about this. It’s something I really need to think about more and do something about.
And thank you so much for your kind and supportive comments recently (on my blog, etc.)! I really appreciate them!!
I rarely click on videos, but I’m glad I did with this one. It left me with goosebumps and much to think about it. Thank you, my friend.
That brought tears to my eyes. It is so true – our words can have such an impact on others. I wish I could say that I have always carefully chosen my words. I love words. This video is such a great reminder that not only what we say is important, but how we say it matters, too.