Comments on: Choosing Your Words Wisely Will Empower You And Those Around You https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/ Cathy Chester, MS Advocate shares decades of wisdom Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:39:23 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 By: Cathy Chester https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20224 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:59:43 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20224 That must be an interesting course, Sharon. Our generation does have so many words that have changed over the year. Not all for the better.

Some words, as I wrote, make me angry and frustrated over the inappropriateness of them and how they are used.

We all have to use our words correctly. As our mothers used to tell us, once we say them we cannot take them back!

Thank you for reading my post and leaving your thoughtful comments. Good luck to your son.

Cheers~
Cathy

]]> By: Sharon https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20223 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:53:26 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20223 What an interesting post! My son is currently taking a college course entitled, "Language and Discrimination" in which they have been discussing everything from how words change in meaning to words that now fall into the category of hate speech. Of big concern to his peers is the fact that the "older generation" continues to use words that are now considered hateful and that it is hard to get them to change. Although I do try to be very careful about the words I choose, I sometimes miss the days when words had simpler meanings and one, simply by using common sense and respect for others, could converse without worrying about using the wrong word.

]]> By: Cathy Chester https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20222 Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:07:07 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20222 Walker,

You are so right about how powerful words can be. I am glad people are using the phrase you referenced about being a victim instead of labeling someone as a victim. No one deserves to suffer something twice.

Funny story about your arrival in New Zealand. I'd love to hear more about your time spent in that beautiful area.

Best to you~
Cathy

]]> By: Cathy Chester https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20221 Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:04:44 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20221 Two great minds thinking alike, eh Janie?

So glad you read my post and left your comments. Always nice to hear from you!

Have a great weekend~
Cathy

]]> By: Cathy Chester https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20220 Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:04:01 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20220 Lisa,

You really do ROCK. That is my "r" word of the day. Lisa rocks! I love your last line describing how you feel about the word (ugh) "victim."

Thanks for reading my post and leaving your thoughtful comments.

Have a wonderful weekend~
Cathy

]]> By: Cathy Chester https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20219 Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:02:23 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20219 Beverly,

I absolutely agree with you. Sometimes words that are used are not strong enough in what they are intended to describe. How do we introduce new words we think are more appropriate? I am sure they must start somewhere. Hmm..

Thank you for your very thought-provoking comments. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving your thoughts with me.

Best to you~
Cathy

]]> By: Beverly Diehl https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20218 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:38:18 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20218 Not a fan of the word victim (or worse, sufferer). I'm thinking we need some new words, because while the term "people with the chronic condition MS" (or rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder) sounds better, it's a bit clunky, and sometimes writers are up against a word count.

Even for people who've experienced terrible crimes: mugging victim, rape victim, incest victim - there's something weak and helpless and demoralizing about the word victim, while terms like rape survivor, assault survivor, sound to me a little too "Rah-rah, go team!" There ought to be a better way to describe that you have an illness, or were assaulted - and while these things still greatly impact you, they do not wholly define who you are.

]]> By: Lisa @ Grandma's Briefs https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20217 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:07:50 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20217 Excellent post, as always! I agree with you on all, though I must say I never knew how the word handicapped came along. Very interesting. The R word? Grrrr!! Makes me so angry. To be honest, I hadn't thought of the use of it too much (yes, ignorant, I know) up until several years ago when I met a woman with a mentally challenged adult child. Completely changed my thinking. Words CAN and DO hurt, far too often.

And I'm with ya, sister, on the not being a "victim" of MS. Eff that S**t. (How's that for words?) 😀

Great post!

]]> By: Janie Emaus https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20216 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:02:29 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20216 Words are ever changing. I did a post on this once, too. Yours brought even more words to mind.

]]> By: Walker Thornton https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20215 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:22:34 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20215 Words have so much power! This is a nice way to examine words and how we use them. Victim is a very emotionally charged word when it comes to the crime of sexual violence. Many people refuse to use that word or take that 'label' so we often say, those who have experienced sexual violence.

I lived in New Zealand for a year. On our arrival after hours and hours in a plane, with a 7 week old baby, I went to the little convenience story around the corner. I came home in tears saying that I didn't understand a word they were saying! There's English...and then there's English!

]]> By: Cathy Chester https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20214 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:45:43 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20214 Hey, Jackie,

We were brought up in the land of "The Sopranos" and "Boardwalk Empire" and people like The Hoffa Family, etc. My dad, an attorney, is a total gentleman in every sense of the word. He represented North Jersey trucking industry (management side) and had meetings with some of the Hoffa's, etc, where every other word was "f". He once asked them to refrain from using those words. Scary! They respected him so much they did it. So anyone can be reformed.(Just thought I'd share that story cause it's amusing.)

I am so glad you read my post and left your thoughtful comments. It means a lot to me.

Best to you~
Cathy

]]> By: Cathy Chester https://anempoweredspirit.com/choose-your-words-wisely/#comment-20213 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:41:08 +0000 http://anempoweredspirit.clients.kidaweb.com/2013/03/14/choose-your-words-wisely-and-feel-empowered-by-them/#comment-20213 Donna,

I do love words - just like you! (Boy, we ARE really getting to be more and more like Irish twins.)

Seriously, whenever I hear a word used that I like, I tell my husband. He's also a writer so I am glad he doesn't think I'm crazy. The tough part is using the word correctly. That's why we have to read, read, read!

Thanks so much for reading my post and leaving your thoughtful and generous comments.

Cheers~
Cathy

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