The English idiom, "A picture is worth a thousand words," is known as an overused expression throughout some individuals in today's society. As a matter of fact, it may even seem like a cliché expression when being referenced. Surely, this expression is thrown around all the time in conversations, however, whether you will admit it or not, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Now, I'm not saying a picture is worth a thousand words, so go ahead and simply text a person a picture of yourself instead of starting a conversation because that would be weird, right? However, the idiom could absolutely seem like that is what it means. The actual meaning of, "A picture is worth a thousand words," in my eyes, simply means that behind every individual photograph that is taken is a still image from a time, place, or event that one could look back on. As one recollects on old pictures from their past, they can remember their feelings, thoughts, and emotions from an intricate 4 x 6 photo staring back at them in a glass frame.
The images that we take, whether from an iPhone 7 or a Canon, display our lives that we have lived each day, month, year, and decade. The images hold a smile shining while cuddling a new beagle puppy, a family reunion that holds fond memories and stories, a proud child holding multiple bouquets of flowers after a dance recital, a fearful teenager after rock climbing a wall, or a yearly summer vacation with family on a tropical island. These few examples of memories that are captured in a photograph explain the true meaning of a picture being worth more than a thousand words.
A photograph surely is a frozen image of the past that brings back special memories. The photos from our past are the items that we will hold onto in life as we grow older and surely wiser. As I write this article, multiple memories kept resurfacing my mind, but in particular, my one pointe song from dance class my freshman year of high school called, "More Than Words." I guess while writing the true meaning behind photos brought back memories from dance class, rehearsing the dance, and of course, performing it at a recital.
Looking back at a picture from the recital brings back the emotions that you felt at that exact moment in time. This feeling goes hand in hand with all photos that we capture. I encourage you to capture a moment whenever you have the opportunity to because one day you will be able to recollect and relive those moments all over again with an even deeper feeling.
