Words with Friends is a fun Internet game. I played
it once with a friend. Until he quit. I’m not sure why. I’m pretty sure he was
winning. My mother-in-law plays it with her brother. They have always had a
friendly rivalry so this is a great way for them to compete with each other while
keeping in touch.
Beyond a game, words are a powerful tool. I
struggle in my professional writing to make sure I convey my meaning while not
making personalized comments. In my personal writing, like here, I strive to
make my thoughts and feelings known through essays or poetry. Words that inspire
or provide information. My hope is that you will understand my emotions,
whether I am angry or feeling silly, through the words I use.
But words can also hurt. Over the past several months
I have been aware of how words are used to do damage. I have listened to words destroy
another’s reputation. I have heard words that try to make the speaker look
better by speaking ill of another. I have witnessed words being used to exclude
someone from the group. In one instance I believe the speaker did not
understand what they had done. (I like to believe the best of anyone until
proven otherwise).
In other settings the words were intentional. They
were delivered for the specific purpose of hurting another person. In some cases, I spoke up and asked that the “issue”
be discussed at another time. In other cases I stayed silent, because to speak
up or speak out would only hurt someone else.
While I don’t have a New Year’s resolution, or
goals for 2016, I am trying to commit to small changes. I read somewhere that
it is easier to make one small change at a time rather than have a huge goal
that seems impossible. One small change is to be mindful of my words.
Because words matter.
If you enjoy my blog and would like to follow me on Facebook, I can be found at The Reluctant Survivor. And on Twitter @relucsurvivor.
