The Importance Of Words To Heal

Words are delicious or they can be poison. It is up to each of us what words taste like. For example, "You look beautiful." is delicious to the person you are sharing these words with. "You are a good for nothing." is like eating poison the that person has shared. Many of us grew up in environments where the latter statement was use indiscriminately. We were force fed the toxic words that shaped our tender minds, damaging our psyche. To think that we are capable of using words to destroy ourselves or others is outside of the realm of reason. Remember the childhood rhyme, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, But words can never hurt me?" This rhyme is now obsolete. We are now using words to hurt ourselves or being like a mosquitoes in the ears of others. We have become verbal terrorists. Deliberately using words like bombs and guns to cause destruction in our wake.

One thing I know is that as a child I grew up hearing that I was not as good as my cousins who didn't do as well as I in school, I carried that negative voice with me into my adult life, but used the "Sticks and stones..." rhyme to keep me safe from others negative verbal regurgitation. I lifted myself up by reprogramming my mind, with positive thoughts.

Something happened when I was about thirteen years old. My grandmother was being her usual self, a bully, telling me that I was unclean, because I was having my period. She kept reminding me I was dirty because I was a girl. That I would not amount to anything in her estimation. I was feeling so hurt, and alone in that moment, that I walked away from her and went to a rock that was above the house which had a hollowed out seat and I sat down. I was angry at being trapped in the experience and all of a sudden I felt as if I was growing. I felt myself grow up above the trees and I could see beyond my grandmother's home. I was able to see past the place that was causing me pain. I heard in my mind a voice which said, "You are greater than the experience you are in." I got it! It was really true. My grandmother used sticks and stones that hurt my bones just as she tried to use her words to hurt me, but I was shown that I was more than the pain I was experiencing. And you know something, She suffered a stroke about a year later and my sisters and I cared for her tenderly, we did not allow her own poison to make us like her. She did not change much when she got better, but I grew beyond her toxicity.

If you are under attack at home, in secret or in public, be aware that you are greater than the experience you are in. Nothing can hurt your spirit especially not words. It has no power over you except for the time you take to stop and consider it.