Standing on my Soap Box

Have you ever thought about the words you speak? In the last little while I’ve been thinking a lot about what I say, who I say it to, and what kind of an impact I make on the person I am talking to.

I once heard a story about a pastor who had a member of his church who was very quick to say nasty things about people. When he spoke to that person he was able to convince them that words can hurt. He also wanted to make a point, so he asked this person to take a feather pillow, go out to a vacant field outside the city, open the pillow up and spread the feather in the field. A few days later he asked that person to go back to that field and pick up all the feathers they had spread and put them back into the pillow. When this member of the congregation was done, they came back to the pastor with the pillow casing only a quarter full of feathers and completely frustrated. They could not find any more of the feathers. The pastor looked at them and said “it is like that with the words you speak, once you have said them they are gone, and the damage is done. “

Words have damaging effects? You better believe they do. When I was in school from grades 7 – 9 I was picked on. (Today we would call it bullying). I was told that I could sell my head to Esso oil and they would be rich off the oil in my hair. I did wash my hair every day, but that didn’t matter. I was looked down upon because of what I wore, or what I did. Sometimes even though I’m in my mid 40’s I STILL hear those negative words repeated in my head, putting me down, especially when I am getting ready to attempt something new.

Did you know that according to studies done, it takes 7 positive words to kill 1 negative word? So think about what you say when you are mad. Think about the words you have spoken to or yelled at your children. “Hey dummy” may just live up to that. Please keep words like “You never…” “You always…” from being spoken in a harsh way. “What is wrong with you?” “Use your head” out of your vocabulary.

When you see someone doing something good, let them know. When you pass by someone give them a smile and say hello. You never know when your words are going to make someone’s day.

Oh and by the way, did I tell you l that you look great today?

Resolution update:

Ok, according to the scale I am ahead of the game, and have lost 12 lbs so far. According to my workout log, I am so far it isn’t even funny. But that doesn’t mean that I have given up. I am back in the saddle. I have a plan and am executing it. Have you gotten side tracked? Let me know, and then get back on track again.