As a writer, I love words. As a fiction writer and an avid reader of fiction, science, fiction, and fantasy, I am often captivated by a well-written, well delivered line. I write them down periodically when I hear (or read them.) These days I am more of an audiobook listener than a reader. It’s been a ridiculously long time since I’ve read an entire book–the last one I remember reading cover to cover, so to speak as I read it on my kindle, was over two years ago. Since then I’ve read chapters and portions of books I was doing research with, but not an entire book. I’m not sure if that qualifies me as being well-read, or simply a good listener. Anyway, I am grateful for the written word, whether fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or other media. I love words.
Every morning I sit up in my bed, sipping my coffee and writing in my journal. This is not great literary writing, though I do at times have significant insights on a variety of things, both for my life and for the larger world. And every evening I sit and write this blog and share some of those thoughts and insights with the broader world. Words have captivated me for as long as I can remember, and I am grateful for them.
I love a well-crafted sentence, and often when browsing the novels in the bookstore I read the very first line in a book, savoring what it has to tell me about the proceeding words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, and chapters. Now that I am an audiobook “reader” I am still caught by the spoken sentence as much as I would if I were reading it. Just this morning I hit the 30 second rewind button on my current read so I could hear the character repeat the sentence. It gives me some small measure of motivation to dust off my own half-written novel and at the same time maddens me into over-editing. The book would probably be finished 20 times by now if I would stop editing and finish it already.
I love poetry and song lyrics, particularly ballads that tell a story–a well-crafted line is not limited to any one genre. Good writing is good writing, and as a lover of words in all its various permutations, I am delighted with each new discovery, each clever turn of a phrase, the delicate selection and placement of particular words and phrases. Oh how I love words. Even painful ones, like letters that begin with “We regret to inform you,” or names hurled at us as children on the playgrounds. They too have their places in our human experiences. The power of words to convey emotions, ideas, plans, visions is immeasurable.
I think a lot about my words, the language I use to convey my thoughts to others. I work to make them as affirmative as possible; though I like most people tend to be rendered less elegant of speech when I am angry, descending to vulgar, if colorful, language to express myself. I try not to use my words as weapons, keeping them and the vehemence and power behind them at bay. I am not always successful, but I try. I like the formula I learned from a teacher, and was also popular on the internet a few years ago that encourages us to THINK before we speak. As yourself:
Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?I don’t pretend that I always run through this formula every time I open my mouth, but I do think about the underlying principles from time to time.
So yes, I am indeed grateful for words and for the many quotations about the importance of our words and how we use them. I am grateful for the writers, the poets, the lyricists, the rappers, the preachers, the actors, all those who create and give voice to words. And while I am deeply aware of the beauty of nonverbal communication and all that can be said without uttering a word, for tonight I am grateful for the power of words. Let the words that I write and speak come from a place of lovingkindness and compassion, for the highest good of all beings. I know I will fall down many times and stray far from this intention, but I will strive for it as best I can. May it be so.
