Sticks and Stones

Do you ever remember hearing kids say "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" ? I sure do. I'm sure I may have said it once or twice myself. Boy, nothing could be further from the truth. More often than not, sticks and stones will rarely break our bones, but words,......they can scar us for a lifetime.

How many guys have you met over the course of your life who have been heavily scarred from accidents, injuries, fights, or moments of pure adrenaline and insanity.....only to show them off to everyone in the room with a smile on their face and a beer in their hand? I've met countless. Okay.....now how many people have you met who have been insulted, degraded, put down, abused, or demoralized do you see talking about their wounds? I've met very few.

The human body can recover from tremendous physical punishment. We can survive car crashes, shotgun blasts, fires, falls from the third story window......heck, even skydiving accidents. Now, if only the human mind could bounce back from trauma within a matter of weeks, months, or even a year or two. Well...it can't. When our minds are traumatized, they are left with permanent imprints of our painful events. We often re-live this pain on a continual basis in a state of constant sufferring. Injuries of the mind sometimes take decades to heal.....and sometimes, they only fade in intensity.

If you have been hurt or abused by the words or actions of someone else, please talk to someone. Talk to a close friend who is TRUSTWORTHY. Talk to a family member, someone at your church or religious institution of choice, a qualified therapist, or even the person who hurt you if(and only if) you feel they will listen and help you to heal.

If you have been abusive or hurtful, it is time to make amends and change your ways. Your words and your actions have made lasting imprints on someone's life. While you can not take back what you have said or done, you CAN move forward. You CAN turn over a new leaf. You CAN better yourself and you CAN start today.

Sticks and stones may break our bones.....but words can scar us for a lifetime. Please remember that everyone. People are not perfect. People make mistakes. Life is beautiful and life is precious....and it only comes around once. There is no need for it to be painful. Take care everyone!

See you next time!!!