Insight

EYESIGHT

The words that bind

By Jenn LeBlanc
jkerriga@mscd.edu

I think often about the things that have been said to me, off-handedly, perhaps with no weight given by the speaker, but the impact of such things on the listener can be devastating.

At one point, in high school, my mom and I were arguing and I told her that I wished she weren't my mother. She said, "You need to be careful what you wish for, you just might get it".

Now that she is dying, I think about all the things I have said to her. I wonder how much of an effect do words really have on people?

I know my words to my mom did not cause her illness, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't take them back if given the chance. We, as a species that communicates primarily with words, need to be much more careful how we use them. If we don't truly understand the magnitude of the words we are unleashing upon the masses, perhaps it would be best for us to just keep them to ourselves.

Each and every single one of us can impress something on someone else; the power of words is undeniable. Even the smallest comment can cause a tidal wave of ripple effect.

Be careful what you put out there, words travel at the speed of light and, last time I checked, humans don't.