Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thoughtful Wednesday : Say What You Mean

 
I really enjoy the cartoon, Horton Hears a Who.  I grew up adoring Dr. Seuss' books, in fact, The Cat in the Hat was the very first book I learned to read.  Anyhow, in the movie, two of my favorite quotes for my life are found.

(1) This one has nothing to do with this post, but I love it.  "A person is a person, no matter how small."

(2)  "I said what I meant, and I meant what I said. An elephant's faithful one-hundred percent!"



Of course, I'm no elephant!  But, I love that line.  It is something that I've been working on.  After we lost our first baby to miscarriage the power of words really became alive to me.  I used to say whatever popped into my head and roll with it.  I never gave much thought to what I said, to whom I said it, or to how it made them feel.  I also used to exaggerate EVERYTHING - and that's no exaggeration!  I think it's partly my personality, but it was also me just being unmindful of what I was saying.

Now, please - I still say nonsense things and still tell jokes, that's not what I mean.  I was just talking.  For years, just talking - and not saying a thing!  I didn't mean 90% of what I said - I would just talk.  These days I try to weigh my words and speak when I know it will make a difference or at least have some meaning.  I don't want to waste my time, or the time of those around me with careless dribble. 

And, it's very important to me to be a woman of my word.  If I say I'll do something, then I'll do it.  I said what I meant, and I meant what I said.  See.

So after Levi died I was again taken aback by how much words can affect someone.  Namely me.  I was devastated by simple things that people said to me/us, but they just weren't always thinking.  I was also upset at the things people weren't saying.  I guess it has really all come down to the power of words.  I have been smacked in the head by the heaviness of words, and how much good or bad they can do.  I'd like to be a very careful speaker.  Careful for those listening/reading, careful to speak positively to everyone I meet and careful to speak positively to myself.

I hope this makes more sense to me when I re-read it later...  :0)

1 comment:

MrsH said...

I also became a much more sensitive person after losing my baby, I found that words, attitude, everything makes a difference when you are so raw, and I understood then that other people might be similarly raw and needing to be treated with kindness. I also became more courageous in speaking the truth though, and actually more open. Your post makes sense.