WORDS

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And in the interest of switching things up on this blog, starting with the TBR at the start of the month, I decided to do something a little different for this next one. 

This isn't an essay of sorts, more like a gathering of thoughts. I wanted to create a bit of ambiance, but you've already seem the title, so there really isn't much point. 

The subject is something I think a lot about: words. Kind words, hurtful words. Etc. 

If I babble on for much longer, I'll end up using all my points up, and that's the last thing I want. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

Words have the power to change you. They can be used to inspire, to build a momentum, to make a person feel good about themselves. They also hold the power to tear you down, to diminish you and your worth, to make your question whether you’re good enough. Whoever came up with the saying “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me” was talking out of their own ass.

Words are everywhere. We see them on posters, leaflets, billboards, as subtitles. Text messages, social media, and books as well, of course. Most of the time, they’re there to invoke some sort of reaction, or emotion. They’re there to inspire, to shock, to scare, to encourage, to entertain, or inform a person, dependant on what the subject matter is. For example, a message on a cigarette pack is to shock a person into giving up smoking. The words on a poster might be spreading the word for a bake sale or a yard sale (if people still do that sort of thing).

That escalades to everything entertainment-wise. Plays, books, films, tv shows, musicals and stand-up comedy- they all had a manuscript at some point. Although stand-up comedy is slightly different- some of that could include crowd work, thinking on the spot, some of it does have to be rehearsed- links to different bits and pieces that are part of the comedian’s act.

Sometimes there are so many words, phrases, so many thoughts banging on the inside of your break, it’s hard to know the right ones to say, to write down first. There’s only ever so much time, to say the important thoughts in your head, first. You just have to say the most important thoughts first, and hope that’s enough, so the other person understands. Think before you speak.

I often wonder where harsh words come from. We’re not born thinking negatively- whether that be towards ourselves or other people- we learn it somewhere. I imagine it’s from family members, and the average passer by- who is late, agitated, and swearing profusely at something that’s making them later- whether that be a person or a vehicle that is slowing their progress down.

We all have aspects that we inherit from our families- whether that be full lips, non-existent eyebrows- and sometimes what people call ‘a potty mouth’. Also, it’s worth noting that large crowds will demonstrate something called mob mentality, where a small group of people, voicing an opinion, then having it backed up by others, is enough to start one large emotion throughout the rest of the crowd. I imagine the crowd mentality works the same way as inheriting certain features- families share similar views, carry on traditions and even share day to day habits.

That might even be where harsh words come from. We’re not born thinking negatively- whether that be towards ourselves or other people- we learn it somewhere. Not just from family members though, even the average passer-by can affect our language- a passer-by who is late, agitated, and swearing profusely at something that’s making them later- whether that be a person or a vehicle that is slowing their progress down.

I often wonder, who decided the names of words? Who decided that an apple should be called an apple, or a pear a pear? I guess it was the person that discovered it decides what it’s called. Having looked it up, in the past, names of things have been established by describing. The example given is about how a person might describe a tree down the road as a white oak, but another person might describe it as a rough oak, or a dark oak.

The longest word in the English language is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, which is the name of a disease caused by inhaling very fine silica dust. I have no idea in hell how Everett M. Smith came up with that word.

Vocabulary. What is it? We use vocabulary words to change the tone of an essay, a letter, to learn the definitions in a test. Some people use them to prover how smart they are. Personally, I don’t think you need fancy vocab words to show you’re intelligent.

I’ve always found it interesting, how people find different words offensive. Obviously, there are words that are just nasty, that should never have existed. But again, it goes back to, who decides why a certain word has a meaning that people find offensive. Does that make sense? Take the ‘c’ word for example. I’ve always been brought up to think that that word should never be heard or spoken. But over the past few years, I’ve heard it uttered increasingly frequently. And I’ve been told that up north, it’s not such a big deal to say it.

Obviously, I don’t say that word, because it’s an insult, but I can’t help thinking about other swear words. Like, say when you trip over something, or burn yourself cooking. Saying “Shit!” or “Fuck!” can relieve you of pain and help you to fight in the fight or flight response. Surveys show that people that frequently swear tend to be more honest and forthright day to day. They can even be calming.

I have an example as for when profusely swearing was calming. This was several years ago, when I was a kid. I went on a volcano ride with me Dad, and I found the entire thing entertaining as heck. Basically: being pushed in. Cue a little swearing. But really, it wasn’t until the cart unexpectedly sky rocketed that I could see the words tumbling out of him like water! It’s a good thing the roar of the rocket was so loud that I couldn’t hear a word of what he was saying. ‘Swearing like a trouper’ is the phrase I will use.

Anyway, if you’ve managed to get to this part- congratulations! This is the last part- the summary.

All in all, words can hurt. What might be a fleeting comment to you, might scar someone else- perhaps for life. Consider what you say, before you say it. (Unless you’ve been mates for over a decade and know each-other enough to insult them to their face and they won’t get offended (we all need a friend like that.)) That counts for online too. Everyone has their insecurities, their obsessions, their loves and passions, and pissing on that might just make you terrible.

Also, sometimes it helps to turn your phone off. To take a break from all the advertisements. You don’t need a reminder of all the things that everyone is doing, all the things you should be doing, to boost your health, to get more sleep. So, take a break off social media and get some peace and quiet.

Okay! Those are all the thoughts I have on well, words! Message, texts, truth, conversations... It's all around us. As always, if you have any thoughts of your own that you want to voice on the subject, please feel free! It's an open space after all! 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx