“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” -Rudyard Kipling
Words. Some are shorter than Kim Kardashian’s marriage, while others are longer than Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.”
We use words every single day of our lives. Whether it’s to make someone smile or to severely hurt someone, they are used without a second thought. Have you ever really sat down and thought about what you’ve said and how it’s affected you and those you care about?
Now, I would be lying if I said that I’ve never used words to hurt someone. Everyone has at some point in his or her life. You get into a fight with a friend or an arch nemesis, and words are tumbling out of your mouth like a waterfall. You stand there as the screws are loosened on your jaw, and soon you’re saying things you know later you’ll wish you could take back.
We say things we don’t mean because we’re human. Our emotions overpower us and hop into the driver’s seat, pushing us over the nearest cliff. Soon we’re spiraling out of control, falling into an abyss of empty phrases soon to be regretted. We know exactly what to say to push the other person’s buttons, and in the heat of the moment, it doesn’t matter what we say.
Now, that was a deep thought. *Please hold your applause until the end*
Words aren’t all bad. On the other side of the fence, they are used to praise, compliment, and express our feelings of happiness or love. It would be harder to tell someone you loved his or her One Direction T-shirt if you couldn’t speak. Sure you could point at it awkwardly and jump up and down like a wild animal, but that wouldn’t get you anywhere. Except into a straight jacket. Without words you wouldn’t be able to finally tell the person you’ve been pining for that you have feelings for them. While they might not reciprocate those feelings, it is better to be honest than silent and filled with regret.
With words, we can tell those important to us that we love them, or we can attempt to make sexual innuendos to make our friends laugh. One day we’ll say, “I do.” One day we might hear a doctor say, “It’s a boy.” or “It’s a girl.” Words are extremely important and we would be utterly lost without them. They are powerful and can be used for both good and evil. In the words of old Uncle Ben, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
*Cue applause*