Word Power

"Make sure of what?"

"Make sure I hated you."

When I first read this exchange of words between Mark and Brian in S. E. Hinton's That Was Then, This Is Now, I had my first real experience with the impact of words. The words are as fresh in my mind today as the first time I read them over twenty years ago. I'm amazed at their power to create the same sensation in my body as they did then. My heart races for a second and I have to remind myself to take a breath. Sadness and despair wash over me.

The words "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike" from Maya Angelou's poem, Human Family, had such an impact on me that I tend to remember the poem by the line instead of the title. The verse has driven me to read the poem over and over. This one line fills me with hope for the world to see one another as not just "those people over there" but as human beings who love, have families, and strive for a better life. I loved the way she summed this complex issue up in such simple words while most of us struggle to express the sentiment clearly and without offending anyone.

Writers strive to use words to convey messages beyond the words on a page. Words create a mood, paint a picture, envelope the reader in the characters' hearts and minds, and immerse the reader in the action. Sometimes a writer's words even help a person to identify with someone they'd originally prejudged or even hated. Words help us to understand someone with whom we disagree even if we still don't agree with them and often bring us to common ground.

In The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz, speaks for the need for one to be "impeccable" with one's words at all times. I like to think of this as being mindful of one's words. To be mindful of one's words, one must always think of the impact of their words before they speak them, or in the case of a writer write them. When we speak, or write, with a purpose to our words, they will be more likely to have the impact we desire. This is true whether one writes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or a letter. The impact of the written word is even greater than the spoken word, in most instances, because it has the capacity to last much longer and to receive greater weight. It becomes the record of the time. This is even true of fiction. If it wasn't, we wouldn't study Shakespeare's plays today or Dante's writings. Fiction gives us insight into the times from the point of view of the writers of the time. Because of this, no matter what one's writing, it's important to choose words wisely always considering whether or not they convey the desired message.

One never knows when or how the words one writes will impact a reader. In 2001, I wrote a simple poem, Gratitude, for our holiday cards. I didn't consider the poem one of my better works, but I was late making the cards so I decided to send it anyway. As soon as I mailed the approximately 100 cards, I regretted using the poem because I thought I should've written something more sophisticated. After all, I am a writer. Much to my surprise, people commented on how much the poem touched them for months after receiving the card. Here I was receiving all these really wonderful comments about this poem for which I was embarrassed because I thought it was too simple for someone who was supposed to be a writer. After a while I realized my problem was that I was more concerned that the poem didn't show off my writing talent than I was with the fact that it conveyed precisely the message I intended! Wow, what an awakening to the power of being impeccable and authentic with one's words!

Writers can't plan the reactions people will have to their words. All we can do is use words to best convey our message and hope that someday those words will impact someone. Sometimes the simplest phrase can have the deepest meaning for a reader and sometimes that same phrase will barely touch a reader's consciousness. A writer's words will be read by many and will affect each reader differently depending on the reader's life experience.

Sometimes a phrase or a passage makes us question our beliefs about an issue. Sometimes words make us appreciate our lives just a little more than before we read them. Sometimes the impact of words we read is immediate. Other times we don't even realize we've been affected until much later. Words are the most important tool we possess. Words allow us to disseminate information. Words entertain and educate us. Words inspire us. Words praise. Words criticize. Words incite. Words destroy. Words uplift. Words both hurt and heal. Words are the ultimate contradiction because they are the ultimate weapon and the gentlest cure. Words are always there ready and willing to serve our needs.

I love words, which probably comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me. I'm a reader, a writer, and a talker. I love to play with words, learn new words, and share words. I love to read and listen to other people's use of words. I think we all do. That's why we read. That's why we write. We all love words. Let's celebrate words.