“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.” ― J.K. Rowling
I agree with J.K. Rowling. Words are magic and that magic is found in how we choose to use them.
The ability to “create meaning from words” –– wordsmithing–– is such a wonderful gift.
As a writer, I consider myself a wordsmith and I spend my days wordsmithing. I look for not just any word but the perfect word to convey my meaning. For example, when describing a character’s departure, I could say.
He left.
He stormed out.
He ambled away.
He darted away.
He wandered away.
Each sentence suggests a different departure. I make the right choice based on the contextual meaning I want to convey to my reader.
We are all wordsmiths whether we’re writers or not.
Sometimes we do not give much care to what’s written or said. If you spend much time on social media, I’m sure you’ve noticed this.
Being a wise wordsmith is a choice. And we can only control our choices, not the choices others make.
We need to make our word selections carefully. Poor or careless word choices can inflict damage both physically and emotionally.
November is all about being appreciative. Good wordsmithing promotes good gratitude.
Try these four things to improve your wordsmithing skills and help cultivate a November attitude:
- Filter your thoughts before you speak. Drop thoughts that might bring negative feelings or trouble.
- Commit to no complaints and no gossip about anything or anyone, including yourself.
- Choose words to express appreciation first, no matter how small, if a complaint is unavoidable.
- Make a concerted effort to say thank you more often. Kind words generate happy feelings in you and those to whom you are speaking.
Can you add anything else to the list?
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