words

wandering around my life today, i was reminded of the power of words, and the importance of how we both give, and receive, them.

words can heal, and words can wound.
words can help, and words can hurt.
words can build up, and words can tear apart.
words can bring a smile to our face, and words can bring a tear to our eyes.


i encountered words in a variety of ways today, yet in all instances, they came about unexpectedly. there was the young woman whose story was right at the top of her throat, just ready to spill over to the first person willing (or perhaps just there) to listen, and there was the friend with whom i had a lot of catching up to do. there was the random encounter on the street with someone whose train of thought is parallel to mine at the moment, and there was the spontaneous moment of laughter (over, of all things, words) shared with a co-worker.

today, whether i listened to, or spoke, the words, i was moved by them, and i learned something from them - something about myself, something about the people around me, and something about the priorities, and the purposes, of my life.

and that was powerful.