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ON WORDS


I have always been careful with words and truth, most of my influencers value these two things so much, “rather love, than money, than fame, give me truth” Henry David Thoreau said. To me, they go hand in hand, after all isn’t it with words that we normally manipulate the truth?

Thoreau came in later in my toil at living a life of truth. I pin it back to the day when my brother lied as I directed him - to our mother about our afternoon nap. To cut it short, he got punished while I was faultless and pardoned. I watched him take on the penance as I was physically at comfort. After that, I grew this uneasy feeling towards lying, this is not to say that I do not manipulate the truth, it’s just when I do, something ugly or funny happens. I call it instant karma.

I didn’t notice I became more mindful of things that come out of my mouth and my written words. “We live in the word” said Elizabeth Alexander, my words shape my world. I have been both victim and victor to my words. I write down my tasks and my dreams and they come to life. I joke about misfortunes and heartbreaks and they too come to life.

I recently have been both… I went out with this nice guy who was visiting for a business trip. I knew whatever we had wouldn’t go far after he leaves and circumstance like that doesn’t stop me from experiencing life. I good-humoredly said to my friend, “I’m preparing for a heartbreak.” The words caught up to me and the heartbreak that came wasn’t the usual outcome of an affair when I travel. Fair to say, I struggled.

But more than the downbeat of words, I am more mindful because I have seen the patterns of good things that happen when beautiful words are said, “see you’s” that came to life. Especially when the people you swear these words to made your life more beautiful but are on the other side of the planet and. Aimee, Lioba, Liam. Recently it was Liam who visited and that’s when this insight of the power of words got refreshed in my system.

Sometimes the words become reality so fast, the first time Liam and I bid our “see you’s” they surprisingly happened after a day. Another time it could be over a year. Sometimes a 2010 trip to Bali note by my bed could realize itself in 2013. But whatever it is, whenever is comes, I think we should be careful with our words because we live in them.

Write down your dreams, bid wonderful promises, greet with kindness, read brilliant works, listen to inspiring messages and say beautiful words.

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