I have spent the greater part of the last few days thinking about the power of words.
When you think about it for any amount of time, you come to realize the true significance of the thing that makes up the bigger picture - the one thing we all share - the human language. For most words, when they sit alphabetically in a dictionary alone, there isn't much significance. Sure, there are a few that can stand on their own, but when the individual words are put together - that's where their true power lies.
When you think about the power of words there isn't one person alive that hasn't felt their thrust. You remember that words do indeed hurt more than sticks and stones when you are bullied, taunted by someone claiming their superiority. You trust the kindness of words when a friend or family member tells you how they have missed you. You feel the butterflies in your tummy with the admission of love for the first time. You can't forget the pain you feel when you disappoint someone or when someone says something that disappoints you. You are transported to the past through the songs that tell the story of your life, the ones you can still sing and feel exactly as you did in the years before.
Everyday, words are the most important choice we make. They can change everything in a second. They can make you change course, direct your future, or make you relive your past. They can make you smile. They can make you laugh. They can make time stand still. They can lift you up and make you believe in yourself. They can make it better. They can make it worse. They can crush you without warning. They are the only things you can never take back.
I wish I had a handbook ...
A handbook for others to know the right and wrong words to say to me. I could distribute my handbook to those who know me - whether they are family, friends, acquaintance, or by some other chance. My handbook would contain only the acceptable words and combinations of words for use on me. It would be a handbook of only words of love, encouragement, answers to questions, and constructive criticism. The words would answer my questions when I had them, teach me when I needed to learn, and unpatronizingly tell me when I was wrong. And I wish everyone else had one too!
Huh! In my next life I'm coming back with thicker skin.
9 comments:
Words are just arbitrary collection of syllables - invented by someone long back without realizing (s)he has done!
On a different note, I do miss the time when communication was more through "proper" sentences and non-sms-like words. In this age of scraps and instand messaging, that seems like prehistoric times!
*what (s)he has done!
Nice post ...I think Family and Friends will never need a handbook.The acquaintances will definitely need one though.
@Deepak: I miss that too! A hand-written letter would still make me a million times happier than an email :)
@Aparna: I perfect formulation of words is what all of us try to come up with to convey what we truly mean. I sometimes craft conversations in my head before speaking them outloud. And there must be a billion different combination of words out there. Surely, there must be one perfect sentence for each situation. That's why I thought of a handbook!
And ya, I agree family and closest friends won't need a handbook, but if I do have one, why not circulate? ;)
Just had to comment on this post. I dont know about life and its relation with perfect words, but once in a while somethings do come by that are perfect. The way you arranged this few words about WORDS....... seemed like one of those things to me.
I think Indian seem a little "too" touchy when it comes to getting offended by words. We almost consider it a primary right of ours to "get offended" by something someone says, and I don't think this is right.
If you don't like something someone else is saying, don't listen to it. And even if you have heard it, come on--how bad can it be? Do you automatically turn into something someone refers to you as?
For this reason, I think "racism" should not really be a problem like it is made out to be. Why should certain "terms" by viewed as derogatory? I don't understand this. :|
@Bumblebee: Thanks dearie :)
@Arnold: I have felt the power of words in more ways than one and I believe in some way or the other, all of us have. Whether one is "offended" by a certain word or not, has got more to do with the individual than the word itself.
My point in this post was about the significance, magnitude and the beauty of certain words put together. The use of which might certainly evoke different emotions in different people.
And I agree with what you said about "racism". It sure isn't as big an issue as it is made out to be.
how to kill writer's block?
and when you are at it, how to beat laziness?
if i may put in my 2 pence to this.
a handbook might leave you with a lot more of happiness for a few days maybe months or even years, but it would rob you of a lifetime of experience.
of knowing the mind of the person behind those few lines that your handbook would contain, of learning words that probably you should maintain another handbook for, to note down those that hurt you, so that you remember to never use them on someone else.
of getting to learn to separate the words from their perceived feelings/emotions and instead attach those emotions/feelings to the person uttering them(for, terming a word as insufferable would be to call the knife guilty!!!)
of trying to place those words that sting like barbs into a more appreciable usage, so that others would learn to put those words to better use than now.
of losing out those words from colloquial usage altogether due to non-usage(you might say that it will be all the more better since "that gets rid of the filth from the language", however it must be pointed that those very words serve as a point of reference for showing how beautiful the words in your handbook actually are, like the way lots and lots and lots of darkness is required to appreciate even one ray of light)
but then, people vary and so do thoughts.
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