the power of words

Imagine a world where the words you speak appear on your skin. 

Would you be more careful of what you say? 

Artist Ronit Bigal.

 The written word provides some sense of anonymity.  I personally find it easier to express my thoughts and feelings in written form than verbally.  When I try to speak, my brain moves faster than my mouth and it all comes out wrong.  I can practice, I can recite, I can use note cards but still it's not as eloquent or professional as when I write.

Words can build someone up or tear someone down.

Words can inspire or deflate.

Words can hurt.

Words can heal.

But you can never take them back, 

there is no delete button, 

no recall email button, no cancel text button.

WORDS ARE POWERFUL

I CHOOSE TO USE THEIR POWER FOR GOOD

we all have that ONE friend.....

I had a work meeting today with someone who is helping my company with our volunteer activity this fall.  I spent over an hour with her and left the meeting feeling refreshed, supported, listened to and genuinely cared about.


I decided this is someone I want to hang out with more often and introduce T (husband) and A & M (children) to.  Someone they can gain positive experiences from knowing!

We were talking about advice (my daughter is 16 and her's is 9) for the mom of a girl, you know - sex, dating....all of it.  She shared advice her mother gave her and it literally moved me to tears.  I hope I get this right:

Everything in life is a phase and every phase will pass.  

If you're in a difficult or sad phase, hang in there because it will pass.  

If you are in a happy, fun phase, enjoy it because it will pass.

How profound an moving, this woman who I don't know and will never have the opportunity to meet (she is no longer with us) touched my heart today.  

Thank you 'big fella for spending time with me an opening your life to me.

Special Day

Yesterday my DD *dear daughter* turned 16....what a special day for her and I wanted to do everything I could to make it extra special.  For the last 8 years we haven't had her home on her birthday, she attended a camp every summer the same week.  Now she's a full blown counselor at that camp and turned 16 the day we picked her up.  The specialness started by bringing 40 cupcakes for the camp counselors & staff to enjoy for her birthday. When we pulled in the driveway from camp she was greeted with a Happy Birthday sign above the garage door. Of course she ran upstairs to "check" on her room - she missed it I guess and opened the door to approximately 275 balloons.......


By far my favorite was the "rock jar"...I asked family and friends to send me a small rock with words of wisdom, advice, memories on it and to sign their name on the back.  Her colorguard coaches, friends, aunts, grandma/grandpa (and even her co-counselors at camp and some of the campers) all sent rocks....she cried as she read them.  Here are photos of the jar and some of the rocks.....

ponder this.....