WHY WORDS MATTER

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908-405-1515 Why Words Matter

by Marlaina Donato

From witchy incantations in Shakespeare’s Macbeth to ancient Sanskrit mantras; from the stirring speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. to the divinely inspired poetry of the Sufis, words have bridged the chasm between the visible and the invisible since the dawn of human language. They have the capacity to conjure change, rock the boat, manipulate mood and alter the inner landscape.

According to language research center Ethnologue, there are more than 7,000 languages in the world. We use words every day to communicate, to learn, to teach, to bond with kindred souls and to win opinion wars on social media. We can use words as medicine or weapons, and we too often forget their power.

Many religious texts draw attention to the spoken word, especially in creation stories and the creative capacity of deity. In the Vedanta Sutra, an ancient Vedic text, the phrase anavritti sabdat translates to “by sound vibration, one becomes liberated.” Consider what it would be like if we each made a daily commitment to use everyday words as a conscious tool for healing—a practical form of spiritual discipline from which everyone might benefit.

In our age of rapidly developing technology and jam-packed schedules, the spoken word is becoming a casualty in the daily blur of abbreviated texts and emojis. Forty percent of the world’s languages are on the threshold of extinction, and so is the language of everyday courtesy and compassion. “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” the old saying goes, but words do hurt, chipping away at our mental health in the classroom, on the checkout line at the supermarket and in our social media newsfeeds.

Negativity-overwhelm has become the norm. If the mystics of old are correct regarding the energetic impact of our words, thoughts and self-talk, incredible power awaits on the tip of our tongues. With a little bit of attention and intention, there’s so much we might be able to create for ourselves and others.

Words are seeds, and we can sow life-sustaining gardens for generations to follow. Consider what to plant today.

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books and a composer of visionary music. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.

Snowfall

by Jared Zornitzer

Nature is always right there by our side—outside the window, beyond the roof, through the television screen—but our daily lives often make it feel otherwise. For me, being busy with school and extracurricular activities causes me to lose touch with the outdoors because I simply do not have as much time as I would like to be outside. However, nature has a special way of sending subtle reminders that it is there waiting for us to appreciate it. These moments ground us, reignite our purpose and remind us of why we are in the fight of challenges we face.

This year’s first snowfall was my moment of revelation. I was walking home from class during a small flurry. For some reason, I could not stop smiling during that walk. I felt the euphoria of a child playing in the snow. All at once, my worrisome thoughts about homework and exams disappeared. I paused and observed the beauty of snowflakes drifting through the air and reveled in the immense sense of warmth and joy that I felt in contrast to the cold night.

I receive other messages from nature, too. I have a constant calling to the world’s hiking trails, especially the Appalachian Trail. I often think about how much I would rather be out hiking the AT than being in school, but I know that it will be in the same place waiting for me to thru-hike it in three years. This provides me with a drive to do well in school; it is what is most important right now, and my hard work will allow me to pursue my true passion in the future.

No matter where we are in this world, we are all bound together by nature. It is accessible to everyone. An example of this human-nature relationship which I think about frequently is trees. Look at any big tree near your house. Think about how long it has been there; it could be hundreds of years old. Through all that time it hasn’t moved once. Humans’ presence around it has surely evolved, but the tree remains constant. Let this calming thought be a symbol of those things in life that are permanently there. One may be in the trough of an obstacle at the moment but, like the tree, you will endure and achieve a state of peacefulness in the end.

Jared Zornitzer is a full-time college student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY studying engineering. An advocate of balancing work and school with exercise and healthy living, he loves hiking, biking, running, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and learning in his classes.

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