In her article “We wear our words,” posted to her blog A Thousand Bits of Paper, Australian poet and storyteller Kate Duff reminds us that the words we use matter and calls on us to pay attention to the words we surround ourselves with.
What words do you live by? What words do you allow to accompany you in this life, and which have you erased from your experience? When you give your word, which word is it exactly and where does it spring from? Who do you allow to keep it, keep parts of you? Because our words, our personal words are like allies that we keep close, they are the chisels which we allow to carve out who we are, they are everything. Yet so few people look around and within to see what company they are keeping.
Excerpt from the article “We wear our words” by Kate Duff, posted on her blog January 30, 2022
Read the complete article by Kate Duff HERE.
Three Worlds One Vision 
I use the word “nowadays” a lot when I write anything. It’s a beautiful word, and very much my equivalent of that famous “cellar door”.
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How interesting, John. I was unaware that the compound noun “cellar door” is widely considered a beautiful sound in the English language. I would agree that the sound of “nowadays” is more euphonic.
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I like her reference to chisels. Sometimes getting the right word or phrase is indeed like carving something beautiful and valuable out of a dull piece of timber. Or at least trying to. The temptation is always to make do with something inferior.
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That’s so true, Denzil. In this way, a blank page is transformed into a work of art with our chiselled words.
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Rosaliene, thank you so much for sharing Kate’s extraordinary article on the power of words, how our choice of them touches not only our own mental, emotional and physical well-being but those around us. I’ve touched on this topic with family and friends, some who agree with me but many are sceptical. It was reassuring to read Kate’s erudite thoughts on words, their central roles in our life. How true that: ‘Words have energy and as they hit our consciousness they cause a corresponding energy within us.’
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Annika, I was also struck by Kate’s comment about the energy conveyed in words. I find poetry very powerful is transmitting such energy.
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I absolutely agree, Rosaliene, with this above mentioned words by Kate Duff !:) I would say that the history of a country is expressed though the language. Many thanks for these thoughts!
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So true, Martina! I discovered that on learning Portuguese in Brazil. Not just its history but also its culture and values.
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:):)
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A person chooses the right words when they know themselves well.
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I agree, Neil. When we know and accept ourselves with all of our weaknesses and failures, we can begin to speak from the heart. I experience that in the stories you share with us.
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I remember this article I read for my Cultural Anthropology class that talked about this exact subject. It was more focused on using words related to war in our vocabulary and how that’s influential in culture. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it!
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TCK, I’m so glad that you’ve mentioned the use of war-related words in our vocabulary. I often use them in my own writing.
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I sometimes do too. I also remember reading this book Invisible Women and the introduction talks about how sexist language is embedded into our daily vocabulary more so than we think. That was quite the wakeup call for me!
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Fascinating, TCK! I’m currently reading Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. So far, I’ve only read the first two chapters, but I’m already amazed on looking anew at the everyday reality of our lives as women.
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It’s an amazing book isn’t it? John Oliver talks about things from that book in his episode on bias in medicine as well. He doesn’t directly say it, but after reading it, I know it’s from the book
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Thank you for this thoughtful meditation on language, Rosaliene.
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My pleasure, Dr. Stein 🙂 Kate’s reflections on words resonated with me as I currently struggle to find the right words to re-start my writing project that I put on hold in March 2020.
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Just take it easy on your recovery from Covid. The writing will come, Rosaliene.
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It’s true that we are what we say. Powerful!
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Thanks for reading!
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This is very thought-provoking. I am tempted to answer right away but know deep down that I would miss or overlook the word I use the most. I really have to think about this one.
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Very thought-provoking, indeed, Bridget. There are a number of words I use daily when I start a new day.
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Thank you for including my words in your esteemed blog Rosaliene, I truly appreciate this.
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My pleasure, Kate 🙂
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Thank you for sharing!!… I use whatever words the heart deems necessary at the time, plus I try to follow my own advice… 🙂
A tongue can accuse and carry bad news
The seeds of distrust, it can sow,
So unless you know the truth and only the truth
Be careful of stones that you throw.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller )
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and until we meet again..
May the love that you give
Always return to you,
That family and friends are many
And always remain true,
May your mind only know peace
No suffering or strife,
May your heart only know love and happiness
On your journey through life.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)
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Dutch, thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts 🙂
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Words have so much power, as we speak them, write them, and read them. This was a wonderful post from Kate. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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So glad that you like Kate’s post, Diana 🙂
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I didn’t know Kate Duff. What a great post! Abracadabra—“I will create as I speak.” ❤️
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Crystal, her post is very thought-provoking. So glad you enjoyed it ❤
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Being Southern “Druthers”, which is a contraction of “I would rather.”
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Thanks for dropping by, Don 🙂
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Words are our arsenal (a war word) of defense and attack therefore we should have a ‘shield’ so that words can never harm us. That shield is Truth.
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I love the vision of a shield of Truth. Thanks!
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