The Power of Words

Our lives begin to end the day that we become silent on things that matter.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Passivity can be my weakness but my voice is my greatest weapon. Unfortunately,  I sometimes forget to use it.   I had to remind myself of this recently because I am currently revisiting the corner of too much to do and not enough hours in the day.  After an exhausting day at work, I come home to a different set of commitments, then I get a few hours sleep and start all over again. Even the weekends offer no relief lately because of so many personal commitments, homework, chores, and errands. Even on days off  I am lucky if I can find an hour to read my book.  I like being busy but busy has gone from stressful to ridiculous.

Out of frustration, I just stopped to take a close look at the obligations in my life. I realized that I was being passive in an attempt get by without conflict and the result was that I had meekly accepted too many commitments. I was compromising myself, and my schedule, so I could accommodate others by saying 'yes' with my mouth as the rest of me was saying no.  It was time to rethink my approach.

I started by declining commitments that put a strain on my already strained schedule and then scheduled my days around what works for me, not the relatives who drop by unexpectedly expecting to be entertained mid week or expect me to take on the bulk of family responsibility.  The result is that my days have less stress and greater productivity.  In order to find my balance again, I had to stop being passive,  I had to find my voice, and then I had to speak up.

The moment you start changing to please people, you will be taking  a step backward.

Joel O'Steen

 

 



This recent situation makes me wonder why we sometimes remain silent  when we should be standing up for ourselves.  It is as though we become passive because we try to convince ourselves that things will change for the better if we just go along with the expectations of others and just do whatever it takes to avoid conflict.  As a result, we remain silent and often do not realize the negative repercussions until it is too late.

 

When I was growing up, women were fighting for equality and I had a front row seat.  My family was divided on the issue, and it was a touchy subject in our home, but I was open with my views and this helped define who I am.  Today I  see a generation who takes freedom for granted.  Our freedoms are under attack while too many people remain silent, afraid that if they voice their thoughts, they could offend someone.  I think some people remain ignorantly confident that their freedoms will always be secure because they have never been without them. We should never forget that liberty and justice came at a price.

 

Our voices are our greatest form of defense irregardless if we are taking a stand in our personal lives or refusing to sit silent and watch unfair acts be imposed on others.  Words have great power.  The greatest men in history influenced humanity, not with guns or knives, but with words.  As I say this I think of Jesus, Ghandi, Socrates, Plato,  Abraham Lincoln, President Kennedy,  President Reagan, Gloria Steinem, and Martin Luther King are but a few  who changed our world using only their words.  Adolf Hitler lacked compassion and integrity but is was his speaking ability that influenced Germany.  Hitler spoke and the people listened while many sat silent, passively confident that the unthinkable would never happen.... until it did.

 

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. 

 

A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.

Martin Luther King Jr.

 

I must not allow myself to remain silent or remain passive again. Our voice is our greatest defense in this world and it is imperative that we speak up.  It doesn't matter if I agree with you or if you agree with me. What is important is that we need to take a stand for what we believe in and let our voices be heard. Apathy is a form of acceptance. If we don't speak up it is inevitable that a few will be determining  the fate for a multitude of people who, instead of fighting to be heard,  sat in a passive silence.

 

One voice is like a candle in a dark room but a multitude of voices  is like a forest fire in a dry summer which cannot be ignored.  Speak up and be heard.

 

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

 

Ronald Reagan.