Say The Words

 

We’ve all heard the words…those immortal words. The words that have changed the world.

 

I was recently listening to a podcast where Oprah Winfrey was interviewing someone you’ve probably seen on the big screen from time to time – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. About 10 days before this interview, The Rock’s father passed away. In the interview, Oprah asked him if he felt that he had been able to say everything he needed to say to his father before he passed. While The Rock and his father weren’t terribly close, his immediate response was no. He didn’t say everything he wanted to his father while he still had the chance. At the same time, The Rock told Oprah that he hadn’t heard everything he needed to hear from his father before he died. While very sad, this idea caught my attention. There is power in the spoken word. That power doesn’t have to come from timeless words that change history like those above. There is power in the simple words. Words of gratitude. Words that we all need to say. Words that we all need to hear.

 

Words may seem mundane to many of us. A simple collection of letters that have meaning when combined. They’re just a tool we use to communicate with others. We use words every day, all day – words are being used all around the world as we speak. In fact, you are reading them right now. Just collections of letters. And while words seem so common, I think many of us don’t understand their true power. While words have the power to hurt, they also have the power to heal. Words have the power to create positive change all around us. They can bring a smile to someone’s face on a bad day. They can provide a sense of encouragement for someone going through a rough patch in life. Words have the power to create lifelong friendships and deep connection with others. There is one caveat however, unless there is action behind words, they have no power. Words need to be spoken. Words need to be written. Words need to be communicated with others in order for their power to truly be expressed. We need to say the words.

 

Unfortunately, The Rock no longer has the opportunity to say what he’d like to his father… nor does he have the opportunity to hear what he needed to hear from his father. However, luckily, many of us still do have that opportunity. We have an opportunity to say what we need to say to our loved ones. We have an opportunity to hear what we need to hear from our loved ones. This opportunity is one of life’s most precious gifts.

 

Think about the people in your inner circle. Who is in that circle? Your parents? Your spouse? Your siblings? Your children? Your friends? Maybe even your work colleagues? You know who these people are.

Say “I love you” to those that mean so much to you.  Say “I’m grateful for you and the impact you’ve made on my life”.     Say “thank you for being a part of my life and for playing such a crucial role when I needed you the most”. 

Just say the words

 

Whatever those words might be for you to convey your appreciation and gratitude for that person.  Be genuine. Be honest. Be true. Do not forfeit the opportunity to harness the power of words to strengthen your relationships because this opportunity will not be there forever. 

 

Imagine if Martin Luther King, Jr, Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy didn’t say the words. How might our world be different because of that decision? Imagine if you choose to not say the words, to communicate your gratitude, toward a loved one. How might their world be different because of that decision? Now, imagine a world where you do say the words. A world where you do express the depth of your gratitude to those close to you. Imagine how beautiful the world would be because of that decision. You can change someone’s world simply by the words you say.  So do that…