One word or phrase can change everything

All of us communicate through a series of words. Whether it is written down, spoken aloud or spoken through hand gestures, they are still words. When enough words are put together, they form sentences and phrases. This is usually how we communicate with each other.

Drew Tucker, Staff Writer

Words can do many things. They can make someone happy or sad. They can cause someone grief or give someone hope. They can hurt. They can give smiles. They can inspire. They can cause depression.

Words can be a delicate thing to individuals. We must handle certain situations with care, rather than just jumping the gun and saying whatever comes to mind. You can cause someone to hate you forever simply by saying one wrong thing.

You can also cause someone to love you forever simply by saying one right thing. One simple phrase can cause drastic changes in one’s life, whether it be your life or someone else’s.

Decisions must be made sometimes-difficult decisions. Saying the right or wrong thing is critical during these times. Do you want to comfort this person? Do you want to cause this person more grief? Do you want your opinion to be heard?

There are many different ways for one to apologize, or to hate. One simple phrase can change a life and the direction it takes. You can say “—- off,” or you can say “I’m sorry.”

When presented with a situation, one must tread lightly. You may think that words are simply words, and nothing more. That’s OK, because that’s your opinion.

I’m here to tell you, from personal experience, words can be far deeper than that. You can make someone’s day by saying one simple phrase, or you can break someone and make them hate you forever.

Growing up in a Baptist town, I’ve been the “minority” when it comes to religion. There is one Catholic church located in Taylor County, and God knows how many Baptists. Religious life has been difficult for me, schoolmates and friends.

At the beginning of my high school career, a priest taught me many things regarding my faith and church beliefs. I was young and my head was a sponge when it came to religion, because I wanted a close relationship with God.

I was taught that we (Catholics) were right, and everyone else was wrong. I was taught that Prots (what we called Protestants) were tree hugging hippies. I was taught that committing sins could send one to hell.

Many of my fellow young Catholics were taught this, and much more. We believed it so strongly that we started using it in everyday life.

We’d tell people that they were wrong, going to hell for whatever reason, and that we were basically right. We even mocked them for being different than us.

We were prejudice. One day at the beginning of my junior year I realized just how wrong I was. How wrong we all were. I was angry for the priest for filling my brain up with these thoughts that were not my own, but his.

You can call it brainwashing. You can call it manipulation. It doesn’t matter.

We still did it.

I realized how much wrong I had caused people. How much I had hurt the people I love and care for simply because of a few words I said to them. Little phrases from the Bible were taken entirely out of context to make us look better.

Ever since that one fateful day I was a changed man. I looked at life from a different perspective. I looked at myself from a different perspective, and saw how ugly I had become.

If you are reading this, and know what I did, and know who I once was, I ask for your forgiveness. Every day I remember the pain I poured out onto unsuspecting souls, and I regret it all.

Today, I believe I have changed. I try hard to ignore the little phrases that pop into my head from time to time, and I look for the good in people.

Many a time here at Campbellsville University I watch what people say to each other, and I look at their reactions. Usually I’ll see a laugh, sometimes confusion, and most of the time I’ll see the conversation continue.

But in some instances, I see something different. I see hurt. I see pain. I see anger.

My goal for this column is to inspire, and offer some type of advice. Please, tread lightly and think about what you say. You can do great and awesome and terrible things with just a few simple words, if you know how to use them properly.

Know who you are, and what you are saying. Don’t do what I did and become someone I didn’t know simply because of what someone told me. Don’t hurt people-especially the ones you love.

One word or phrase can change everything. You can make someone’s day or give them a nightmare.

The choice, ultimately, is your own. Tread lightly.

 

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