Different things affect every person in a different way. This is especially true when it comes to what we say to each other. Whether our words be written or spoken, they are equally powerful. As human beings, we can't help ourselves when it comes to talking about other people. It seems almost impossible to make it through a conversation without mentioning someone else's name. Of course just because we talk about someone else doesn't automatically mean we're saying something negative, but regardless of what we're saying, we should always choose our words wisely.
For some reason, our brains are wired to more vividly remember the negative things that happen to us over the positive. I wish I could say this isn't true, but I know from personal experience that the negative words of others still ring in my head even years later. One time in high school, a mean girl who didn't like me, but had never spoken to me, told one of my friends that she thought I was ugly. I had never spoken to this girl, never done anything wrong to her and yet she had something cruel to say about me. Among all the compliments I've been given throughout my life, I still, for some reason, remember this ONE stupid thing that someone I didn't even care about had to say about me.
I can remember every mean thing any of my friends have said to me during arguments. I remember every cruel word my brothers have screamed at me when I made them angry. I remember all of the times my parents have hurt my feelings when I got in trouble. I know people say things that they don't mean when they are upset, but that doesn't make them any easier to forget.
Harsh words are remembered a lot longer than compliments. One negative comment can completely shatter someone's confidence. People say things without thinking, and with one sentence, can completely destroy another person's identity.
The point of me saying this is: be careful about what you say, who you say it about and who you say it to. Upset or not, you should never say something cruel to someone else, especially not someone you care about.
We all need to be a lot more careful about what we say and try to focus more on building each other up rather than tearing each other down. Most of the time people interact with others on social media differently than they would interact in person. Social media sites make it easier for people to say negative things to one another, because they don't actually see just how their words are affecting the person receiving them.
Moral of the story: be nicer to people, especially online. You never know just how much what you say is going to affect someone. Plus, there is absolutely no benefit to making someone else feel like crap. You wouldn't like it if someone else was trying to tear you down, so don't do it to someone else.
It's as simple as what we were taught back in elementary school: "Treat people how you want to be treated".
I think recycling this idea will do us all some good.
