Mary’s
Minute
"Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don't mean much to you, may stick with someone else for a lifetime."
- Rachel Wolchin
Words are so powerful -- words that we speak, words
that we write, and even words that we think.
I love words, and for me they are my lifeline. I love words so much that I have come to
realize that I even like to decorate with them, with pillows and plagues
filling my home with words and quotes, like “Live, Laugh, Love.” Words make me happy!
People who work with me know that I process by
spilling ideas out with words. Sometimes
I wish I had a mute button, so I could be muted until I get the idea worked out
so those around me could be spared all of my verbal processing!
Words
that we share through writing and speaking can have tremendous power and
influence to harm or heal. Often, we don’t
realize the influence our words can have.
As adults many of us remember words that were spoken to us as children that have stuck with us. My kids remember me saying things to them they I don’t remember even saying! Over my career I have taught several hundred students – from preschoolers to adults. Sometimes years later, former students will tell me something I said to them, of which I have zero recollection. At my age I don’t have a lot of memories from my early years, but then there are tiny moments and words I remember. When I was about five years old, I went with my mom to visit her Aunt Frances in the hospital in Chicago. I don’t remember the details, but I think couldn’t go to the room so I sat in the waiting room. (I know we wouldn’t do that today, but this was 1970!) I walked into the hospital gift shop, and the lady behind the counter told me sternly that I wasn’t allowed to be in the shop alone. I know she was just doing her job, but her words have stuck with me (and still hurt me a little bit) 50 years later! I don’t blame her, but I want to use it as a lesson for me to use my words wisely.
It can be empowering and exciting, but also a little scary. Sometimes we want to speak with influence, and our words are forgotten. While at other times, we say or write something flippantly, and it is long remembered. We just need to remember that words matter!
Mary
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