Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can be much worse.

Sometimes our biggest problem is not truly appreciating the power of the things we say, or in some cases don't say. We're all guilty of it. There are many times, like the one that spurred this post, that I forget how much a few words, whether said or unsaid, can hurt someone until they hit home. I can legitimately say that I try to stay conscious of my actions and words on a daily basis. I sincerely try to be a person who makes others feel good. But I slip up like everyone else. Whether its an off-hand remark I don't think the other person will take seriously, a joke I never imagined would hurt someone else's feelings, a text message ignored, an apology not given, one not accepted, or just kind words that never leave the lips, its certainly nothing to be taken lightly. The people in our lives are real people. They have real emotions, real tears, real worries, and have lived real lives that we simply cannot ever completely understand. We'll never know what another person is really going through, and with this in mind we should be wary of ourselves and how we affect them.

Some people have no problem brushing off the words of others. Not everyone is so lucky. For those like me compliments truly mean a lot. They can make or break a day sometimes. But for every Yin there's also a Yang. Those people who appreciate the sweet gestures or words the most are often those who are stung the most by their counterparts. As much as an "I love you" can make someone feel accepted and loved, harsh words can also bring them a great deal misery. The person who you avoid, disregard, neglect, or take no notice of is a person every bit as much as you are. If they take the time to try to connect with you, then more than likely you're important enough to sincerely affect them. We should all keep this in mind. When you talk to another person try to be genuine. That doesn't just mean tell them what you really think. It means acknowledge them as a fellow human being. Acknowledge their feelings as real, their thoughts legitimate, their emotions as valid.

A lot of people are very private about their feelings. They'll never show you how much you can/do hurt them. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, though. They grieve in private and cry alone. That doesn't make it any less significant. In fact, maybe it makes it more significant. Whether or not they are the kind of person who is open to everyone about their emotions doesn't mean they don't experience them as well. In my experience, those who speak the least often feel the most. Life can be difficult for us all. It's because of this that we should be here for each other along the way. We are all only here for a small amount of time. Its not insignificant that WE are all we have. Of the vast number of people that have ever lived and ever will live, these are the people we share the earth with right now. The only people we will ever have a chance to connect with. Let's not waste it.

"But here in the real world,
It's not that easy at all,
'Cause when hearts get broken,
It's real tears that fall."