Language
We’ve created this funny thing called language. As humans, ages ago we created a way to speak to each other. To share excitement and joy and good news. We have let this invention of our brilliant brains turn sour, using this beautiful gift to harm, to manipulate, to divide. What if we spent the day using our language, our communication gift, our brilliant invention of sounds to produce only joyful, life-giving, kind, empowering things?
A billion years ago, the sky combusted and, by whatever magical journey your soul likes to find itself a part of, we were created. From billions of stars you were formed. Don’t let your magic slip from top of mind. You are pure magic, stardust in body form. You are nothing less than all of creation as we know it working together to keep you here. The trees withstand hurricanes and the fish never stop swimming and the bird wake us up and things keep moving so that by some circle of life miracle, you can be. So be. Be your best version. Personally, I think that starts with language.
There is a reason why we cling to those words of hope, guidance, kindness, and peace during times of hardship and tragedy, loneliness and despair. It’s a practice, the habit of speaking kindly - sometimes honesty is harsh and leaves wounds you can’t see. Sometimes, you candor repeats in the swirls of self-talk late at night in someone else’s mind. I know I have snippets of conversation that repeat in my mind; like every time I put on that article of clothing because of a comment I can’t shake; like when I go for the late night cookie jar; like when I am laying in bed at 3 AM and can’t seem to lose the insomnia and hear your words rattling between my ears and I lay on my pillow and will myself to hear something else.
You can’t do anything about those things if you’re the one who tracked mud inside but you can speak more positive things next time so hopefully those replace the sticky and dirty ones.
And maybe your words are simply the outpouring of what rattles along inside your head. Here are some of my favorite words the rolled off the tips of the tongues of people I admire; lovely, whimsical, whacky, words. Find your language. Embrace it. Use it. Big love, pals.
“In solitude, I felt the liberty you spoke of. But I also felt your absence. Do all lovers feel they’re inventing something?”
“I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.”
“Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.”
“It is fatal to be a man or woman pure and simple: one must be a woman manly, or a man womanly.”
“Where does it all lead? What will become of us? These were our young questions, and young answers were revealed. It leads to each other. We become ourselves.”
“I’ve had 72 absolutely flaming years. It (the illness) doesn’t bother me at all because, you know, love, when you’ve lived like I have, you’ve done it all. I put all my effort into living.”
“Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. It’s a miracle, and the dance is a celebration of that miracle.”
“You were once wild here. Don’t let them tame you.”
“You are the only one of you. From the beginning of time till the end of this world to the end of eternity. There's only one of you ever created. Ever. You are the only you. That's pretty powerful. So why on earth would you want to look like anybody else, dress like anyone else, dance like anyone else, be someone else, when you are a legend in your own right?”
“In the place where you feel completely uncomfortable, is the place where you find your genius.”
“Maybe that’s enlightenment enough: to know that there is no final resting place of the mind; no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom...is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.”
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
I’m in a band. I don’t go to church every Sunday. I love punk rock music. Sometimes I use swear words a lot. I respect and admire gay men and women. I’m obsessed with horror films. I know what shame feels like. And guess what old man? Jesus is still my Savior.”
xx.
Candice