Yakety-yak.

I wasn't going to do any social media ish sort of stuff this week in order to get all of my homework done, but I have an urge to write. Ironically about words.
We're beginning our Great Work Response papers in my writing class, and today we talked about words and their power. What you say to someone has a much larger effect than you could never know. In cases of domestic violence, the abusers are often manipulative and make the victim believe that what has happened to them is their fault, that they deserved it, that they are worthless. The Nazis, in the early stage of World War II, wrote about what they were doing to the Jews in a way that dehumanized them, calling them "merchandise" and other derogatory words that took away their humanity. I once knew someone that would tear me down through compliments, by making a point to compliment my friend more than me, making sure I knew that I was on a lower level than my friend. I don't know if the person knew what they were doing, but I do know the way the words made me feel. A compliment was tearing me down! Words have a power that we don't even realize, and the way we use them has an even stronger power.
I started reading a book yesterday, called Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. The book is about an eleven year-old girl with cerebral palsy who doesn't have the ability to talk. She is a genius, but because she can't talk, no one knows who she really is or how she feels. She aches to talk and be able to express herself, and is jealous of those who can. She finally gets a device that allows her to communicate, and one of the first things that she says to her parents is, "I love you." We take our words for granted so much, yet they have a such a big impact on everything.
This is the part where I get down on my hands and knees and beg all of us to be more careful with our words, to use them to uplift and build up rather than pull apart and tear down. I know that is something I will definitely be more careful with.
To whoever is reading this, you are wonderful, and you are more special and important than you know. You have a purpose that no one else does, something that only you can do. Remember that in your lowest moments, and that someone is think of you and someone does care about you. That's what I have to say.

What are you saying?



(If you have the time, I highly recommend watching or reading Elder Holland's talk. It's amazing. Thanks, Dad, for drilling it our heads ;) )