A word is like toothpaste, because when you squeeze it out of the tube you cannot take it back.
These were the wise words of my dad in his attempts to help me grow up.
Counting and carefully choosing your words is something we forget to do in South Africa.
Evidence of this is the drama played off last week in and outside the country’s parliament.
It started with a deputy minister who said, outside parliament, that the public prosecutor, Thuli Madonsela was a CIA spy.
He did apologise a few days later, saying he was misquoted by the journalist writing the story.
His statement about Madonsela made such waves that it almost caused a diplomatic crisis between South Africa and America.
This was not the end.
In parliament later last week a member of the opposition called the deputy minister an idiot and refused to withdraw the statement.
What has become of our respect for other people and of the fact that others also have feelings that can be hurt by what is being said by others?
Another dilemma is – why do we teach our children about counting our words, if adults don’t?
I see the same irresponsible use of words taking place during Ekurhuleni Metro’s council meetings, where our city’s leaders utter words that infuriate and sometimes hurt people in the same council meeting. .
This habit of city councillors started a few years back when a DA member called Moses Makwakwa the member of Ekurhuleni metro’s mayoral committee a “booitjie”.
This then caused shock waves throughout the metro, but was since then followed up with remarks and works that caused, and still causes, a lot of unease between some political parties in Ekurhuleni
I always say a word you utter starts inside your mind, because you are (in theory) what you think.
These words then “slip” out in times least expected.
This is why we are, at times, shocked about something someone says – many times from someone you never expected to use those words.
I can easily say words make waves and have consequences, expected of someone or not.
These waves because of one statement was once again evident in last week’s saga of the deputy minister.
A perfect world will be where people never have to say “I didn’t mean it” or “I was misquoted”.
We will learn again to trust our fellow-human beings and will have children growing up in a safe world of trust.
I once heard that plants die in only a few days when you regularly swear and shout at them.
Well, I tried the opposite by (in my eccentric self) gently talking to my plants, telling them they will become beautiful and useful in my garden.
I think it worked because only one plant died up to now – maybe because of a lack of water.
Coming back to our children.
If the theory of killing plants with your words carry weight, imagine what continuous negative and swear words are doing to a little soul?
Start with telling your child how special he or she is.
These words are like water to little trees, like music to a soul and will create children that will become fruitful and useful members of the South African society.
In summing up, I found some quotes on the topic of using your words wisely.
I quote a few on this type of wisdom:
- n Isaiah Harden: Choose your words and actions wisely. They can be forgiven, but not forgotten.
- n Ella Wheeler Wilcox: You may choose your words like a connoisseur and polish it up with art. But the word that sways, and stirs, and stays, is the word that comes from the heart.
- n Unknown quotes: Words have no meaning until they are followed by action. Choose your words carefully and act even more cautiously.
- n Unknown quotes: Your words can hurt someone more than you intended to and therefore it is important that you take a moment to think before you speak, no matter your mood. Words are expensive, once they are said they cannot be taken back. Chose your words wisely or else it can become costly to you.
- n Unknown quotes: Everything that you say can influence a person, so choose your words carefully.
- n Doe Zantamata: Words are so very powerful and we never know what state of mind someone is in at any time. You choose your words, but you cannot choose the affect they will have on people. Always speak out of love. True power does not crush others, but helps them to see their own greatness.
- n Unknown quotes: It is easier to build up a child than it is to repair an adult. Chose your words wisely.
