Recently, I listened to a class presentation on nonverbal communication. The presentation was interesting and well done, but the speaker said something that struck a chord with me. Towards the end of the presentation, the speaker claimed that authors are “limited to the words on the page.” I instantly wrote that sentence down in my notes, as I was taken aback by it. Words have never limited me. On the contrary, words have set me free.

I wanted to write about this experience and how important words are as soon as he said that. But as I sat down to write, I found myself struggling for the right words to use. Alanis Morissette described my current predicament pretty well, “A little too ironic, don’t ya think?” Maybe the speaker was right that words are limiting, as I can’t even describe what I am trying to say. How do you explain how essential air is without sounding obvious, or worse, corny?

I have kept a journal since I was in the second grade, and I have always been an avid reader. I’ve loved words for as long as I can remember. When life seemed unbearable in high school, I turned to the characters in my books to relate to what I was going through, or I turned to my journal to write everything that I couldn’t say out loud. Words were my salvation. Sometimes, it seemed like all I had were my words.

To explain how I feel, I’m going to use someone else’s words. “For me, writing has always felt like praying…You feel that you are with someone,” Marilynne Robinson says in her book "Gilead." I am not a religious person, but I’d imagine that when people pray, they feel as if they are with God, or connecting with God at the very least. When I read, I am connecting with that author, no matter how far away they are or how long ago it was written, or even if they are still alive. When I write, I feel like I’m connecting with the world. It’s the only solace that I have ever found from the calamities of life. Words are how people connect with one another, whether it be through literature or conversation or song lyrics; they’re what makes the world go around. When I talk about a book with someone else who has also read it, and we can share our ecstasy or rage over the book together, and that brings us closer together.

My favorite comedian, Bo Burnham, named his first standup special "Words Words Words" after a sassy remark made by Hamlet. I made this the title of this article because Bo Burnham and "Hamlet" are two of my favorite things, but also because the poster for the standup is a picture of Bo Burnham’s face made out of the words of his stand up. He is literally made out of words. And I would argue that although we are not literally composed of words, they are the foundation for our whole lives.

Words spread awareness, words are used to fight for causes, and words are used in essays that determine whether you get into your dream school or not. When you tell someone that you love them, you are using words to portray something deeper than yourself. Love letters which are treasured for generations are composed of words of adoration. Instead of one foot in front of the other, it's one word after the next, producing a heartfelt note that captures the heart of its readers.

Words bring people freedom, and freedom brings people power. Of course, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Words can be used to harm others as well. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” is as far as the truth as sayings can get, and I am not the first person to say so. I remember when I was called “selfish” and “psychotic”. Though this was years ago, to this day those words hurt me and affect how I interact with others. Every single time I talk about how I feel about something, I stop myself and contemplate if whatever I’m saying makes me sound psychotic or not before I continue. I have struggled with an anxiety disorder for as long as I can remember, and being called the word “psychotic” not only brought unnecessary attention to this but also served as the catalyst for a series of self-invalidation.

I can concur that words are not always used for good purposes and intents. I can also agree that sometimes, it’s hard to describe how you feel or how something smells or whatever. Words are not perfect, but they are also not limiting. Authors are not limited to the words on a page, nor are you limited by the words that you have been called or have said. Words are what the speaker makes them. Let them set you free.