Words have a magical power that we rarely realize. They can heal, tear apart, bring together, build up or destroy. It is easy to forget how powerful they are as they surround us everywhere. There is a constant dialog running non-stop 24/7 through our internal dialog, ambient words floating from conversations overheard, TV, radio, social media, interactions and communications written, spoken, dreams dreamed. All filled with words. But each word carries a meaning and meanings are ideas. Ideas are positive, ideas are negative, but rarely are ideas neutral.
Today, I am thinking of the ideas generated by our internal dialog to ourselves. If I spoke to others they way I speak to myself, I would be a social pariah. Think of all the things you might tell yourself with your hands on your hips. Would you actually say them to others? Would you want others to say them to you? When I put it this way, I answer with a resounding NO. So today, I will practice encouragement and praise to myself and leave off the negative commentary. Why don't you give it a try, too?
Note: The above photo was taken at the Huntington Library at the entrance to the science wing. When I take my camera with me, it seems that most days have a theme, sometimes, I start out with a theme in mint, but quite often, the theme presents itself to me. On this day, my first trip to the Huntington post surgery, the theme was words. It seemed that everywhere I looked, I saw words anew even though clearly I had seen them a hundred times previously. Here is another set of words that left me thinking as the Virginia Slims commercials used to say: You've come a long way, baby. And I am glad of it.
