A lot of the time, we talk for the sake of talking; we ramble, gossip, and tell stories just to hear our own voices. We also speak to entertain and grab other people's attention. We spend so much of our days communicating through word of mouth, text, and email that is impossible to remember every single thing someone has been said to us. Furthermore, as we chitchat, we have no idea how our words and conversations can affect others.
In my mom's classroom, she has the Maya Angelou quote, "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget the way you made them feel" hanging high on a wall for all her students to see. I've always liked this quote since it really is so true. With all the dialogue we consume per day, of course what is actually being said is not remembered, but I'll never forget how I felt after certain conversations. However, there are some conversations I could never forget because they cut me to the core.
Words can be sharper than knives. They can be painful, mean, and heartbreaking. With a sharp mind, the weakest person alive can take down countless men with his tongue. Of course, you may realize you've said something that could be hurtful and apologize. Just remember you can throw a plate and watch it break and then say sorry too. The act can be forgiven, but the plate is still broken.
Here are some examples of cutting words often leave invisible scars:
"You're just not that pretty."
"Do you honestly think that's cute?"
"You're so fake."
"You've gotten fat."
"You aren't worth it."
"You're not a genuine person."
I have thick skin. I don't need the approval of others to feel good about myself. I know I have great qualities and also that there are things that I might need to work on, but it is all part of life. At the time when these things were said to me, though, my skin wasn't as thick, and I allowed my feelings to get hurt. I'll always remember how those statements made me feel as a person, and I know I will never say them to any person no matter the circumstance.
I never understood the concept of using our ability to speak as a way to be hurtful. How could anyone want to say something demeaning or rude just to feel good about themselves? In my opinion, the words we speak should only be used to build up and never to knock down. When I have something to say, I want to speak to improve the silence. Otherwise, it's a waste of breath.
