The Power of Words: A Journey Through Expression

The Impact of Language on Our Lives

The power of words always amazes me. If my eyes are a window to my soul, then words must be the doorway. The right word, formed in the right sentence, can make you weep or laugh out loud. I delight in taking words and building anecdotes, embellishing nonfiction that longs to be told. My past begs to leave a trace with lines—hard-hitting lines that deliver an uppercut punch and a left hook to the gut. Words transfer thought to paper, infuse wisdom, and gain trust. They can make you sane or drive you nuts.

Personal Experiences with Words

I’ve delivered words in eulogies and sent thoughtful mail to friends. I’ve decorated holiday cards with stamps, stencils, and pens. Colored cardboard cut-out paper with fancy scissor edging, glistening gold calligraphy markers outline my prose. I’ve utilized words to write my way through pain in private journals that nobody else knows about. I’ve used words to provide laughter and teaching to a young toddler, bringing cheer to a bereft friend. I’ve wielded words like a sword to wound and punish. Then, I’ve used words of atonement to make amends.

The words I’ve used comfort my life with my voice, which to me is home. It makes me sad that I no longer hear all of my words. So, it’s taken exaggerated facial gestures, hand signals, and tone from others to catch my attention.

The Healing Power of Words

I’ve repeated words like anthems—mantras to keep my spirit alive. I’ve spoken to the Lord Almighty, using holy words aloud in mass. Words of Gospel, words of hymn. Acts of Contrition, forgiveness for sin. “Lord Have Mercy, Christ Have Mercy,” and even “God Dammit.” I’ve recited the Our Father and the Apostles' Creed more times than I can reveal.

“Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”

I’ve used words to negotiate the business of life and close my own at the end of the day. I’ve made actors famous, but for me, I never saw a dime. I've used words to make a swift end, to cut and run, and also to bide time. I’ve used words to terminate, procrastinate, eradicate, stimulate, tunicate, ruminate, and resonate. Words I’ve whispered into the sweet ears of those I have loved and those I have only dreamed of loving—dreamy pillow talk on a rainy Sunday morning. Words to woo my enemies and protect myself from myself.

The Art of Expression

I’ve given up entire lives and the ones before to speak only in Shakespearian tongue and write Elizabethan verse. Words of comedies and tragedies, plays I’ve rehearsed. One word spoken by someone can make those weak in the knees or gush with anticipation. Words that beseech. I’ve seen more heartfelt words spoken silently in a glance than could ever be conveyed as powerfully with speech.

The hardest words for me are the ones that never arrive. Writer's block, a missed celebration, a missed opportunity to express myself just one more time. The empty missed words are enough to make me go numb. I’ve sat at my desk in my library, hanging on hope against hope, without any hope—only for those words to never come. The worst of words are “my words”—those that never have a chance to be said or heard. The words that get filed away forever with regret.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Words

I wonder what words my future has in store. Words on paper, words in print. Words on deeds, more words of repent. Wonderful words I’ve given up hope of ever hearing. Baby's first words, words in church I’ve yet to speak. Words that make you strong, words that make you weak. Words that bring sorrow, words that bring fright. Words when the phone rings at 4:00 are like a thief in the night. Words that make me laugh, words that make me cry. Words of truth, words of lies. Words of hello, words of goodbye. Words that dance and words that will be said when alas I am no longer here.

A Moment of Reflection

I've reached that moment, that point in my life that I never thought I would reach. I am tired of talking, tired of words, tired of speech. And as you can see, just tired in life. I don't want to talk about it, don't want to form a plan. Too much plotting removes the urgency, destroys the passion. It kills the moment that I want to live in, taking me too far away from who I am and who I used to be.

I am not the man I was… or a fraction of who I used to be. As you can most definitely see.

Embracing My Identity as a Writer

I am a writer. I embrace the journey that words have taken me on. Each word is a stepping stone, guiding me through the complexities of life. I invite you to explore your own relationship with words. They are powerful tools that can shape our experiences, connect us with others, and help us navigate the world.

Let’s celebrate the beauty of language together. Whether you’re crafting a script, writing a letter, or simply sharing your thoughts, remember that your words matter. They have the power to inspire, heal, and transform.