September 16, 2026 Your Words Have Power
"Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten."
- Unknown
Listen to, or read this meditation:
Did you know that your words are like magic? They really are! The words you say can make someone's day bright and happy, or they can make someone feel really sad.
Imagine you wake up and someone says, "Good morning! I'm so happy to see you!" How would you feel? Pretty good, right? Now imagine someone says, "Ugh, why are you here?" That would feel terrible!
The same thing happens when YOU talk. Your words can lift people up or knock them down. And here's the really important part: you get to choose which kind of magic you use!
Kind words are like sunshine. They make people smile. They help people feel good about themselves. When you say something nice to someone, they might remember it for years and years!
I still remember when I was in third grade, and my teacher said I was a good writer. That was a long time ago, but I never forgot it! Her kind words made me want to keep writing.
Mean words are different. They hurt like a bruise. And sometimes they hurt for a really long time. Even if you say "sorry" later, the person might still remember how bad they felt.
But here's something really cool: the words you say to YOURSELF matter too! If you keep telling yourself "I'm not good at this" or "I can't do anything right," your brain starts to believe it. But if you say "I can learn this" or "I'm getting better every day," your brain believes that instead!
You don't have to say nice things that aren't true. But you can find something good to say. Instead of "Your drawing is ugly," you could say "I like how you used so many colors!" See the difference?And if you don't have anything nice to say? It's okay to say nothing at all. Silence is better than mean words.
Remember: your words are powerful. They can hurt or heal. They can tear down or build up. Use your word-magic wisely!
Action Step: Today, say three kind things to three different people. Watch how their faces light up! Then, say one kind thing to yourself when you look in the mirror.
-Detroit
