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| Image Credit: Toeiie |
Hi there! I’ve put off this post for a while now. I kept
getting the itch to write this, but I never got around to it because I didn’t
feel like I’ve figured out the right way to say what I needed to say, but I
think I’ve finally figured it out.
I’ve been reading a lot more lately, interviews, books, and
it has gotten me to really think about words. I can’t decide if it was
inevitable or not because though we all read the words on the page, I don’t
know if we register what it means and its impact. We talk everyday and use
words to communicate. Most of us probably write emails or papers, or something
of a sort daily, and we absentmindedly read everything from billboards to
newspaper headings on a daily basis. No matter how you cut it, words are all
around us and very much a part of our lives.
I was reading Lorde’s interview on Rookie the other day and it provoked an epiphany: I better learn to
freaking choose my words wisely. I’m no expert on interviews, but it’s safe to
say that if an interviewer asks the interviewee a question, every word is
recorded and later edited to create the article. Seems simple enough, right?
It made me think, “If my interviewer wrote down every word I
said in my answer, would I want those words in an article?” Now, I certainly
don’t mean that in a snobbish way, but more like would I be proud of the words
I said and the impression I’d make?
Though my confidence level has gone up quite a bit over the
past few months, my vocabulary is nowhere near as complex and varied as I’d
like it to be, so in conversations when I panic and desperately try to find the
right thing to say, I tend to “uhm” and “ah” a bit too much to be perceived as
sounding intelligent.
Lorde sounded so normal and down-to-earth, but she sounded
so confident and I admired that so much. It made me think about how I’d answer
questions in an interview and how I’d sound if someone was reading every word I
said and how I could improve. I’ve done an interview before for a school, but
that’s about where my experience ends in that department and I though I’m crazy
proud of how that interview went down, I still cringe at the way I handled a
few questions.
Things like this make me really self-reflect and want to
improve myself. Oh, and of course, criticise the world around me. Yuli Ziv said
something that really got me thinking:
“Years ago, people
fought and died over freedom of speech. We take this liberty for granted quite
often, but such free speech is still forbidden in other countries. Don’t
continue to take this freedom for granted. You are gifted the option to express
your thoughts to the world, so speak from your heart; talk about subjects that
matter the most to you. If that make someone’s life happier, you’ve accomplished
your mission to bring value to this world.”
– Yuli Ziv from “Blogging Your Way
to the Front Row”
In our generation, we take our freedom of speech for
granted. We can publish a piece with the click of a button, tell our friends
(and creeps) what we’re up to with a simple Tweet, and permanently put our face
on the web through Facebook for all to see and friends (and once again, creeps) to praise. Things have really changed since we had to
fight to say whatever suits our fancy and it’s time that we change our ways and
start showing a bit of appreciation.
If there’s one thing I’d like everyone who reads this to
take away from this post is that you
should choose your words wisely. Not many of those around you will be able
to tell exactly how you feel and exactly who you are without hearing your
words, so it’s inevitable that you’ll be remembered for what you said. Make
your words count and don’t waste them on those who couldn’t care less what you
have to say. Speak your mind loud and clear and remember – if the thought isn’t
too daunting – that your words are written in ink and you can’t take them back.
So there’s some food for thought.
Care to share what you have to say?
Thank you so much for reading!
- J
Wise post, Julianna! Though you might not be satisfied with your interview or some conversations, I think you've been doing quite good on your blog already :)!
ReplyDeleteEloquence is something that I strive for, and I internally cursed at myself every time I screwed up. I really admire those who speak confidently in front of people and say what they have to say in ways that people accept.
For me, my way to show appreciation for the liberty and the words is to spread wonderful things around with them, after all, that's what words are for in the first place, right?
Thank you for saying that, Melody. :) That was really sweet of you to say. Also, I think the way you show appreciation for our liberty and freedom of speech is lovely. :D - J
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