Use Them Wisely...

The Power of words.

What else can we use to cause such immeasurable happiness, intense pain, sweet comfort, or monstrous fear to another living being without ever having to leave the comfort of your easy chair. Both a weapon and a salve, words are the way we communicate our innermost feelings. And because we are conditioned from birth to express ourselves, sometimes we toss words around without thinking about what we are actually saying. And sometimes we think about it so much that what comes out of our mouths sounds rehearsed, and it ends up being not what we meant to convey at all. 

And sometimes, we just like to hear ourselves talk.

What if we only had a certain number of words that we were allotted at birth? What if we were forced to wear a counter, and once we reached that magic number, were no longer allowed to speak? Would we use our words wisely? Would we make sure that every word counted for something? Oh my! What would politicians do? Or Aunt Millie when she came to visit? (Everyone has an Aunt Millie--although she may be going by another name in your family!)

And words are made even more powerful by the circumstances in which they are used. Or by who is using them. The same word can cause different emotions, joyful or painful.

"I love you, mommy"...from my two year old daughter when I came home from the hospital after a surgery.
Her chubby little hand on the side of my face like I was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Breaking my heart. JOY.

"I LOVE YOU, MOMMY!!!!"...from my oldest son when he was two, chubby little hands holding on to the handle of the car for dear life, tears streaming down his face, looking at me like I was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. How could I leave him at Grandmas for the night when he didn't want me to go. Ever. Breaking my heart. GUILT.

"I love you"...you're in love. Heart swollen with joy. And then ..."But, I love you..." and it's over. Breaking a broken heart.

"CHARGE!" had a different meaning at the Alamo, than it does today at Macy's.

"Where's Sammy?" when he's playing...hiding behind a chair when he's five. Peek-a Boo, and, "Where's Sammy?" when it's past curfew and you haven't gotten a phone call from him telling you he's going to be late.
Fear.

And "Sealed with a Kiss"...has disappeared, as has the actual hand- written letter. Unless of course you want to end your text or tweet ...S.W.A.K.. It somehow loses the sentiment, but is much more economical when you are trying to stay within 140 characters!

We toss them around easily because there is no limit to how many times we can open our mouth to emit them...but  we must learn to use them wisely, these precious words. Once we let  them go, we can never get them back. And even though there is no one keeping track of the number of words we are allowed to use...maybe there should be. A few heartfelt meaningful phrases, mean more than you know, and will break through all the noisy jabber that we are accustomed to every day.

It might be hard to take sometimes, but wouldn't it be wonderful if you knew exactly what everyone meant, that it came from the true place in the heart, no matter how hard it was to hear...or how wonderful...just knowing it was real.

Yes sireee...words are powerful. Whether you say them out loud, or write them down. Words are powerful. If those eyes are the window to your soul...than words are the shortcut to your mind. And someone, somewhere will always be there to hear them.

Use them wisely.

Until next time.

Debbie