[tweetmeme source=”cbyndas” only_single=false]Do you remember this saying from childhood?  It was the very one that your parents tried to comfort you with when someone was saying not so nice things to you.  Thing is, it probably did not work.  The words probably still “stung”, nasty, mean-spirited words have that power; they hurt.  After you have had a moment to gather your thoughts the saying makes more sense; you realize that the “nasty, mean-spirited” words that others dish out are more a reflection of themselves than they are of you.  We are what we say and do, our choices tell the world who we are on the inside.

As I move through adult life I have started to appreciate that my parents’ generation was much nicer than my own.  The internet has made it socially acceptable for many to say really hurtful, nasty, inappropriate things about others.  These “words” are posted about neighbors, friends, business partners, politicians, pastors, etc. – things that would never be said in a face to face environment are said online without hesitation or consideration.  These “gripers” have the “right” to say things as did our parents but our parents made better choices than many do today. There is greater ability and comfort, due to technology, to spread mean-spirited words to a greater number of people.

But alas it is all part of the equation…

The fact that some take to the Internet to post words with the intention of “hurting” another person is unfortunate, but part of the over all scheme of things.  You see with every bad there is also good.  If you look at the flip side of this equation the internet has created an amazing platform for words to be used in powerful uplifting ways.  Here is a great example…

Guess my generation still needs to sort this all out, we have the power of words shared via the internet; we just need to figure out as a society how to use it in the right ways.  I am confident we can get there.  So here is my challenge to each of you, post something positive to the internet today.  It does not matter where or what just make the effort to use your “words” in a positive way.

My thanks to Curtis for being an inspiration and sharing his gift of words via the internet!