Tag Archives: Conversations

22

Words of Power

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Words are weapons more potent than the most destructive of bombs, and they destroy people and lives as quickly as the most violent of storms. We are all capable of inflicting great harm on others and having significant injury heaped into our own lives. Talking is a substantial mode of communication all people use every day, and it is also something most don’t give a second thought to, but they should. How can what you say affect your life and the lives of those around you?

Words have incredible power to express our emotional sentiment and thought to the world. All things are energetic, and comments are exponentially so. You must choose carefully. The words you use in all of your conversations with others and with yourself will determine much about your karma. The energy you create with the language you use will affect your life and those you speak with long after the sentence is uttered and the thought expressed. The effect can be either positive or negative, and the choice belongs to you and the way you deploy your weapon of words.

The Dark Side of Language

The dark side of language can suck you in very quickly, and it is the most powerful weapon you have. Simple little sentences between friends can harm all people involved in the conversation and lead to more negativity in the world. It is difficult to turn back once you start down a negative path. Here are a few of the negative word paths you should avoid.

  • Negative talk- Negativity is speaking poorly about someone or something, looking for the worst, being mean, critical, or using any other negative words toward something. Also, always expecting the worst out of any situation is negative thinking.
  • Lying – Not being honest is the creator of negative energy. People lie because they are afraid of the truth, and it justifies what they are or actions they have taken, others, or even themselves. Lying always brings negative energy.
  • Gossip- Speaking in casual or unconstrained conversation about others using details that are rumors or outright lies. At the very least, you are painting someone else in a negative light for no constructive reason.
  • Judgment- When you judge someone else in your language, you remove their humanity, and you separate them from yourself and usually make yourself feel better.
  • Complaining- When you complain about something, you create a victim’s mentality. It does no good, and keep this in mind. 80% of the people don’t care, and the other 20% are glad you have a problem to complain about.
  • Make Excuses- I have often stated that excuses give your Power away to the most plausible reason you will accept.
  • An exaggeration is a form of lying that can hurt you when you make something more substantial than it is to make yourself look better or feel better; it will harm your life.

Positive Power of talk

Fortunately, weapons work for good as well. You can choose to talk about things positively and leave the negative words and conversations behind them. Bringing positivity and hope to your life and adding to the joy in others. Focus your discussions and terms on the positive forces of words and see the difference it makes in your life. You are shining a positive light on your life and the lives of others. Here are a few points to focus on.

  • Honesty– This is the first test of all words we choose to use. Is it true? If it is and doesn’t hurt anyone, let it out. Honesty is always positive. Being straight and transparent with your words and what you mean will allow others to be honest with you.
  • Authenticity– Being genuine in what you say allows everyone to know what you stand for. If you feel a certain way about something, as long as you are not harming anyone else, then speak genuinely about your thoughts and feelings about topics in your life.
  • Integrity- Sticking to your principles is essential so that your words stand clearly for what you believe in. If your words represent your beliefs and what you think is moral and upright, how can you go wrong?
  • Love- In all things, let your words come from a place of love. All branches of love, acceptance, kindness, understanding, caring, etc., will spread positivity throughout your world. Speak with respect whenever possible.

Time Release Detonation

One of the aspects of our words that most don’t consider is that a thought spoken meanly can sit idly inside your head for years and then resurface and do its damage later. When you use insults or negative-minded comments, they may pop out later when you least expect it. A word is spoken, and at first, it doesn’t bother you, but as you think about it more and more, it can infest your mind and cause anger, fear, or even worse.

This time-released detonation can be devastating to relationships of all kinds. Words spoken in anger in the heat of the moment resurface later to harm you and whoever is around you. Be wary of every word you say and conversation you have. Be positive that the terms are what you want to be represented by for the rest of your life. One sarcastic comment can cut a person to the core, totally meant in jest. Be careful of the way you use your words and make sure they are not a weapon harming anyone.

“Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don’t mean much to you may stick with someone else for a lifetime.” -Rachel Wolchin

“Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.” -Unknown

“Words are free. It’s how you use them that may cost you.” -Kush and Wizdom

“Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.” -Rumi

 “…But the human tongue is a beast that few can master. It strains constantly to break out of its cage, and if it is not tamed, it will run wild and cause you grief.” -Unknown

 “The secret of being boring is to say everything.” -Voltaire

 “One kind word can change someone’s entire day.” -Unknown

 

21

Look Up

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This is a phone. It used to be in your home and if you weren't there, nobody could get in touch with you. Scary to most people today.
This is a phone. It used to be in your home, and if you weren’t there, nobody could get in touch with you. Scary to most people today.

Few things are more invasive in all of our lives today than the electronic tethers and ties that are continually connecting us to the world. Are we really in need of connection?

Notice all the time that you are spending checking social media, keeping your phone handy, just in case………….someone calls, texts, or sends you a social media message on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  It seems to me that this type of focus is not doing anyone any good. The world’s electronic tentacles attach strongly and make us dependent on a small world contained within our phones. There is a giant world in front of you that might be missed if you are focused only on the action in the palm of your hand.

I am old enough to remember what life was like before we had this technology.  Your phone was at home, and when you left, people didn’t have to talk with you until you got to work or wherever you were going.  You could play a round of golf or go for a walk without any way to communicate with the outside world. We all survived just fine, and so did the world.   Now, if you can’t answer a text message fast enough, people feel slighted and upset with you. There is a viral video about breaking the electronic.

How often do we see this happening? People are way more worried about who they are not with than who they are with.
How often do we see this happening? People are way more worried about who they are not with than who they are with.

connection and the opportunities for real socialization that we are all missing because of our inability to stop staring at our phone and start looking to interact with other people. (see video here) I have personally made it my mission to be more aware of what is going on in my reality and my experiences.  I have even enforced this rule on people I have conversations with.  Nobody can check a text or send a message through the conversation, and answering your phone is definitely not tolerated.  I do this by simply pointing out that I value the conversation and the experience of talking more than a text message from someone else.

What is going to happen if the message isn’t returned instantly? Most times, the answer is absolutely nothing, and the conversations I have had have become more interesting and in the moment.  By doing this, I have been able to know people better and stay in the moment of the conversation. There is no need to multitask and not give each person in your life your attention when you have the opportunity to do so. Try focusing on what is real in your life, the people who you are spending time with rather than worrying about what is happening somewhere else, with someone else, and life will be more enjoyable.

I do this by simply pointing out that I value the conversation and the experience of talking more than a text message from someone else. What is going to happen if the message isn’t returned instantly? Most times, the answer is absolutely nothing, and the conversations I have had have become more interesting and in the moment.  By doing this, I have been able to know people better and stay in the moment of the conversation. There is no need to multitask and not give each person in your life your attention when you have the opportunity to do so. Try focusing on what is real in your life, the people who you are spending time with rather than worrying about what is happening somewhere else, with someone else, and life will be more enjoyable.

There is no need to multitask and not give each person in your life your attention when you have the opportunity to do so. Try focusing on what is real in your life, the people who you are spending time with rather than worrying about what is happening somewhere else, with someone else, and life will be more enjoyable.

It is easy to remember to treat the people that you are speaking to with simple respect. Listen, respond and socialize.
It is easy to remember to treat the people that you are speaking to with simple respect. Listen, respond and socialize.

Many people today have a hard time relating to people directly that they stand or sit in a group together and text to other people or, worse yet, to each other.  Putting the phones down, getting your head out of the electronic world, and looking into other people’s reality might be the best thing that you can do to improve your experience of life. Give yourself a chance actually to have a conversation with your friend. Listen, respond, and react to real.

Give yourself a chance actually to have a conversation with your friend. Listen, respond, and react to real-life social cues that are right in front of you. Please leave your phone in your pocket and interact with life and the situations that it presents. You might find something that has been missing, and you will most likely find enjoyment in life that you have never known.

I know that in my case, I have definitely benefited from breaking the electronic tether as often as possible.  Give it a shot and see what type of communication comes into your life and how much more significant it is. This is an old school song about what it was like to call someone you wanted to talk to. It is an old experience but a good one.

Family

Happy Birthday Helen

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Helen Vinal Hilton
Say Happy Birthday To the Greatest Grandmother In History

Today is March 2, 2018, which is not just another day on the calendar, it is the day that my grandmother, Helen Vinal Hilton was born. She would have been 96 this year.

I am sure that most people think great things about their grandmothers, I was fortunate to have two great ones, and to have a positive relationship with both.

Now they have both passed away, there are certain times when their memory comes to my mind more strongly than others, March 2 is one of those days for me.

To give you a little background about Helen, she was without a doubt the sweetest, kindest, most encouraging, loving, and funniest person I have ever met.

We always had a special bond since I can remember.  I have vivid memories of her playing games with us when we were young, you name it we played it, cards, board games.  She always made sure there were things for us to do when we visited with her.

I remember her taking us to movies, to visit Santa Clause, and to the Circus.  (I never liked clowns, and probably wouldn’t have survived and enjoyed the circus if it wasn’t for her. )

One of the most incredible things, my siblings and I all remember about both our father’s parents was the unquestioning welcome they always gave you when you showed up.  I would never have considered ever calling to see if they were home, or giving them any warning at all, I just showed up, as did my brothers and sister.

Not once did I ever feel like it was an intrusion.  They were always, truly, happy to see me and we always had a great visit.  They usually involved cookies, but we always could just talk about things.  What it was like growing up for her, what World War II was like for them, what various members of the family were up to.

It seemed like we always stayed connected to relatives we didn’t see.  Very often through those conversations.  When my Grandfather was alive, he would chime in as well, and after he passed, Helen and I talked more and more about life.  I valued those conversations then, but treasure the memory of them now.  She was a great lady, great grandmother, and a great friend.  I wouldn’t have traded her and her memory for anything else in the world.

So on this day, I am taking a moment to remember, and send some of the love and attention that Helen always gave to me, back to her.  I hope that she knows that no matter whatever else she did in life, she was the Greatest Grandmother In History!

Even though she has been gone for over 15 years, my memories of her and all of her acts of kindness and her melodic laugh live on in my heart.  Happy Birthday Grammy! How do can someone ever say thank you for all that you did and the great example you set for all of us who loved you.

Thankful for the gift my angels gave me.

-Everlast