Words and People

     This week, I've had the opportunity to attend the Close Up trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City. I've met people my age from Alaska, Idaho, New Mexico, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Minnesota. Jacee Engels and I are rooming with two girls who we quickly found out were the Alaskan version of us: chill, nice, easy to get along with, best friends. We are all giggly in the way that is annoying to everyone around (sorry guys!), but fun and stress-relieving for us. We lucked out big time, to say the least. Jacee and I were both surprised to find out that there are girls out there exactly like us. As the week has gone on, we have made a few more observations concerning the other students here. It has been very interesting to see that people aren't necessarily the same anywhere you go, but there certainly are some of the same kinds of people everywhere. 

     After sitting by some girls from another state who we had just met at breakfast, we were offended and taken aback when they started calling others cruel nicknames they had made up and obviously felt pretty clever for. The names pertained to what they considered flaws on their outside appearances, and what were probably some big insecurities those kids had already. They weren't saying anything to these people face-to-face, simply whispering jokes about them for their friends' approval, which makes it totally acceptable, right? Wrong. Their words were not meant to be positive, to bring anyone up, or to make anyone feel better. They were meant to point out and magnify imperfections they saw in others in order to distract themselves from their own insecurities, in hopes of making them seem smaller in comparison. 

     You never know what impact your words can have and who they can reach. That comment you make under your breath could easily get around to that person, whether you meant it to or not, and guess who is going to feel insecure and uncomfortable from that point on? That "joke" you make about someone's sweater could embarrass them to the point where even if it's their favorite sweater, they will never wear it again in fear of getting laughed at or made fun of. Seriously, nothing good can ever come from unkind words. Words can either be our most powerful weapons in hurting feelings and damaging self-esteems, or the most helpful tools in improving the lives of others. Their power is nothing to abuse. The next time you are about to insult someone, whether it is to them or your friends, ask yourself why you should or shouldn't say that and what effect it will have. I challenge everyone--and starting small is ok!--to change the way we communicate and be kind.

Always, Anna