Imagine yourself at an exclusive banquet. You are wearing a tie. Ladies, you are wearing pantyhose (I know what you're thinking, this is quite legit). At your most pristine and poised behavior, your words are purposefully reserved, filtered, and selective. Random spurs and outbreaks of song lyrics are now forbidden territory. Smile, handshake, and pose--that'll get you through the night.

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Our thoughts are undeniably everywhere and nowhere, yet they remain barred until eventually liberated. When internal dialogue transitions into verbal proclamations, whispers, and normal conversations, thoughts become unchained--open to either societal criticism or appraisal. Boundless thoughts are ultimately tamed into a string of superficially rational words.

Your seemingly inexplicable visualizations of two whole pizza pies entering your mouth while sun bathing in your future beach house in some remote island of the Pacific with your pet dog and two parrots becomes a mere "I miss summer and I'm hungry".

For those undergoing the college process, like myself, most especially experience the endless "what ifs" in our heads, rationalizing and visualizing any situation in which the circumstances can get severely worse than it already is. We love to think of our potential doom ahead of time, specifically right as we write those renowned essay prompts. What if I don't get into the college of my dreams? What if I'm not good enough? Why am I even doing this in the first place? Am i making the right decision? Wow, these applications fees are quite hefty already, is this the start of my joyous journey towards drowning debt? I wish I was ten. I just want to be successful, to make my parents proud. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

These rationales, by the way, are the sole thoughts that flow through my mind currently.

But alas, when asked the magical "how are you", amidst the novel-long proclamation I desire to cry out, the go-to response instinctively dominates.

"Fine, and you?"

Words and verbal expressions seem to fall short as these truly unfathomable and intense feelings ensue, but despite such evident shortcomings, the right words can alternatively become one's greatest comrade.

My greatest comrade.

For, in actuality, the selection of words aren't the hindrance, but your own inhibitions and personal limitations. It is your choice to have more unspoken words than open proclamations. And indeed, you have your reasons, but also always keep in mind the power and intense beauty of language.

Expressed words can be dynamic, distinct, and emotionally triggering. A general feeling of "happiness" can be tailored to one's degree of joy, from "eternal glee" to "the inexplicable jitters down my spine". All mean the same, yet produce a different impact.

And so of those words unspoken, they should not be merely jailed, but purposefully analyzed. Find the right words to say and say them proudly. Let the words run through your tongue with grace, confidence, wit, and authenticity. The silence and the loudness united brings forth a sense of comfort.

Let of spoken words become a light of truth, amidst the complex and unexpected life we live in.

Go ahead, and tell someone how much you love them.