Sticks and Stones.....The Big Lie

Photograph by Cherie Elaine 2018

Did you grow up hearing the words "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?" It is likely that many did, and it is just as likely that without being told so, the subconscious has proven it to be a lie.

After a number of broken bones that have now healed and only rear their ugly heads in the dead of a frozen winter, the truth of how words have shaped my reality leaves far more scars than the other way around. 

What you heard about you as you grew up bent you into who you are today. Sometimes the voices are close and right at home. Sometimes the voices are misinterpretations of what you thought others thought of you. Sometimes cruelty and bullying, at school, at church (oh yes, do not discount this truth), and at home, and as adult on the job, teach you that you are not enough, or that you are wrong. 

Are you sick to death of the voices in your head that take authority and tell you that you're failing? Don't you want to silence the lies?

Here's another stone to throw..... What are you telling the young people around you? That they are idiots? That they know better (most of them DON'T)? That they are just entitled or rebellious?  

What about the six-year old who is full of silliness because someday someone will need her joy. Will she be silenced and told she is misbehaving when in reality she is exercising her God-given talent? She needs redirected, guided. Trained in the way SHE should go. Don't steal her joy!

That eight-year old boy with endless energy that is driving you crazy and you lose your temper and tell him he has got to learn to be quiet and sit still? Maybe that energy is a gift, because someday he will be an emergency room doctor that will need an abundance of busy built it so that he can tirelessly save lives. 

Quit making comments about the underdog, the odd fellow, the one who isn't an athlete or wearing the right clothes. Good grief, I'm even hearing grown adults make fun of each other!  

There are generations and generations believing they aren't good enough. Should we really be surprised that some of them are exploding? 

And what do you believe about YOU? 

Its heartbreaking. So many are heartbroken. 

Your words matter. Who you are matters. Start being kind to yourself. Practice saying NICE things. Start being kind to others. Practice saying nice things to them. 

Sticks and stones break bones. And build foundations and walls.

Words break spirits, or build foundations and tear down walls. 

Be a builder of fine things, be a builder of fine people. Use kind words. 

Words are power. Hitler used them to tear down millions. Jesus used them to build them up. 

Be careful what you say, and how you say it. 

Just say nice things. For every negative thought, think of one thing you like better. Say it out loud. To yourself and to others.