Do you recall something your parents told you when you were young? Or perhaps a teacher or friend? Isn’t it amazing what influence a few words can have upon you? Whether words of encouragement or words of scorn, they color our world. They influence our lives.
A perfect example of how words can influence a life is Maya Angelou. Her neighbor-turned-teacher, Mrs. Flowers, encouraged Angelou to read, even taking her to the library to read books there. As she continued to read, Angelou found that she loved poetry. Her teacher would have her come to her house and read the poetry to her and that encouraged Angelou even more. According to Wikipedia, “Flowers introduced her to authors such as Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Douglas Johnson, and James Weldon Johnson, authors who would affect her life and career, as well as black female artists like Frances Harper, Anne Spencer, and Jessie Fauset.” Angelou, who had a difficult childhood, went on to become a successful author, poet, and civil rights activist.
Be mindful of your words to those around you, for you may be influencing their future.
Photo courtesy of ckubber.
