Words Matter

 Words. Words can be weaponized to hurt other people, or utilized to build people up. Words can be powerful, both written and verbally. I've always been drawn to words - memorizing Bible verses in elementary school for church, writing poems in junior high and high school, and blogging and writing books in adulthood. When I was in high school, I wanted to become a journalist. Then when I got to college, I wanted to be an author and a college professor. The power of words has always been felt in my world, and I think that makes me more tuned in to how words affect other people, because they have always mattered a lot to me. 

Word of the year for me is SERENITY, and Rylee chose ALIGNMENT. She's been through some ups and downs over the past six months, and I'm really proud of how she's navigated things and continues to carry herself. She is also someone with whom words matter - and the delivery of words coming from someone who is more rational and direct versus someone who is more empathetic and tuned in to the feelings of others can drastically differ. I'm trying to teach her that words do matter, but the only thing we can control when it comes to how others choose their words (or delivery of those words) is how we react to them. It's a lesson I continue to learn each day.

In my "regular" job, I attended a leadership virtual summit today and a few things that stood out to me were that along with words, intentions matter. When you lead from love, gratitude, and compassion, the people you work with will recognize that. When you lead from fear and control and intimidation, the people you work with will also recognize that - and likely try their best to avoid interacting with you because of how you lead. I think this lesson applies to what I'm trying to do in the classroom this semester with my college students as well. The words I say to them matter. The first couple years of college are all about finding your way, and figuring out what matters to you. I am hopeful that by creating a space of authenticity and welcoming, the students I interact with in the first half of 2026 will be better off in some way than when they walked in the classroom door on the first day. 

In the virtual summit today, one of the leaders asked what each of our goals were for 2026. 

My goal for 2026 is to have my words matter in all of my interactions - with students, colleagues at work, family, and friends. I want to positively impact those that I interact with, and be a light for the students who might not have another source of positivity pouring into them.