Have you ever thought about how powerful words are? Short ones, long ones, complex ones, simple ones, slang ones, “foreign” ones, and technical ones can all affect us in some way. They can inspire us, soothe us, and even make us angry. I don’t want to get carried away with this tonight, but I did want to add a postscript to a prior post about my word believe and Connie’s word courage. Since that time, several friends have come up with a “word of the year,” and I think that’s exciting. Now if we can only carry out our good intentions….
Anyway, I want to share a quick insight about my word believe. Connie gave me seven blocks, one for each letter in the word B-e-l-i-e-v-e, and I wanted to put them in a place where I spend a lot of time. My thinking was that glimpsing at the word from time to time would help me keep my resolve to truly BELIEVE. So I took it to work. As I was placing the letters on top of the desk, I began experimenting a little and ended up with two reminders: Be and Live. I liked both of those verbal prompts so much that I put the extra “e” away for now.
I want to BE and not just DO, LIVE and not just exist. How about you?
mom's musings 
Hi Marla Jayne,
I like your post. I just wrote a post about change. One of my students leads a group of Real Estate investors who are challenging themselves to change. He came up with a little exercise to facilitate changing that is at the end of my post. Perhaps you would find it interesting and beneficial in your quest to BE and LIVE.
My word for the year is FAITH.
My word for the year is DECORUM. It’s quite a boring word isn’t it?
Christine Kane would be proud! Who knew she would give birth to such a phenomenom! I am so glad you are enjoying your blocks…we never outgrow the need to arrange letters and play with blocks! Another “Christine” thought, she always expresses the intent to “be in the present moment”
to just show up for life and enjoy it.
Words are powerful indeed. I imagine there have been wars and celebrations all because of the words someone spoke!
Janet, I can’t wait to read this; I’m all about change and growth and maximizing one’s potential. I like your word and am soon going to post a little short something about everyone’s words.
Undercanopy, No, I think decorum is a great word, and I wish a few more people displayed it! Your blog is fascinating…quite interesting and well-written…a place I plan to revisit soon.
Connie, perhaps you could communicate with Christine and let her know the movement she started. Ah, yes, I like the “be in the present momoent” idea too. Someone (can’t remember who at the moment) recently wrote about Henry B. Eyring’s encouragement to “Be there.”
Christy, Thanks for commenting. I agree completely, and I wish and hope that there will more celebrations than wars one day. Today I’ve been especially conscious of the words I speak and how I speak them.
I like the wordplay of Believe and Be/Live.
Thanks. Me too. A daughter of the friend who gave me the blocks was kidding around and brought it to my attention that live backwards is evil. It’s so amazing to me how the arbitrary arrangement of letters can make such a difference.