the power of words

It’s funny the way the human brain works.  

You can hear and receive hundreds of compliments, uplifting and encouraging words throughout your life, but more often than not the words that you remember………… the words that seem to stick with you, are the hurtful ones.  

I don’t know if it’s the social-media-crazed, celebrity-gossip-frenzied world we now live in, but I’ve noticed an increase in hurtful words lately.   I’ve seen hateful words and comments left on social media channels, and I’ve been kind of shocked at the nonchalant attitude people seem to have about throwing such powerful, menacing words around.  I know we Americans like to get up on our freedom of speech  soapboxes, but does our freedom really grant us the right to verbally tear someone down? 
Words aren’t just words; there’s more to them.  
The words you leave on someone’s Facebook page or Instagram feed can be read and seen by many people……….some of those people are grandparents, spouses and children.  We live in an age where we are all so righteously entitled to our own opinions, but when our opinion can cause more harm than good is it really worth sharing?  
Words spread more quickly these days………they can be like a disease………or they can inspire.  
We use our phones to quickly type comments and twitter updates.  Maybe it’s the ease of using technology that makes us take less responsibility for the words we share?  But the words we type are read by a person……a real living human being.  I think most adults are kind enough not to walk up to a person they just met and say something awful to their face, but why then would you write something awful on a person’s social media outlet?  It may not seem so but it’s basically the same thing. 
I’m not trying to be all holier than thou, I’m not perfect.  Though when it comes to words, I do try to choose mine pretty carefully.  
I want to use my magic for good. 

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  • Poignantly and beautifully written. So, so true. I've been on both ends of this – saying things rashly that I felt really ashamed of later and carrying hurtful things with me for much longer than I probably ought to. I guess we've all been there. But I think you're so right, words are more powerful than some seem to realize.

  • So well said Carmel. It's so sad and kind of bizarre to me how adults feel the need to be downright nasty and ANGRY (!?) on design blogs, Facebook and other social medias. PS I LOVE YOU AND YOUR BLOG!! Your projects are so creative and you have the best attitude on life. It's a joy to visit you here!!!!!

  • Good words, Carmen.

    My personal policy and accountability system is that I only use my real name when posting a comment. If I don't want to let people know who I am, then I interpret my hesitation as an indication that my comment is not worth posting.

    Years ago, I wrote a mean, vulgar comment in response to an article. I posted it anonymously, then read what I had written and was stunned. I had no idea I was capable of writing such a thing. It was the anonymity that did it: it gave me too much freedom. I didn't feel invigorated by it; I felt out of control. I never posted anonymously again.

    A drawback of the internet is that it makes it too easy to withhold yourself from community. Community creates good boundaries; without community, people do all kinds of weird stuff. You can tell the blogs that have strong communities: look at the comment sections.

    (My name is Cindy, and I approved this message. 🙂 )

  • Such a great post and so true. We've had our school in the news this weeks because of terrible verbal abuse from some students for an opposing school team and they should all read this.

  • So timely Carmen…I 100% agree and live by the adage…"if you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all"…I made a comment on a popular twitter account a few days ago and have received some incredibly nasty, hurtful responses/retreats about something as innocent as what we do for Halloween candy (or lack thereof)….I have deleted/blocked, etc all the responses, but the damage is done. I cannot fathom what so many people deal with day to day. I always enjoy reading your blog, but especially today 🙂

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  • My small group studied James chapter 3 this week. It's funny how God can use multiple channels to get a point across to me! This was perfectly timed and a great reminder! Thanks Carmel!

  • I am a school counselor, and I have a sign hanging in my office that reminds me of your post today. It says "be sure to taste your words before you spit them out. I have another one that says "hurt people hurt people". I actually have a whole office full of those types of quotes that hopefully make the students who come see me stop and think when they read them.

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