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)
