Sticks and Stones...

I grew up hearing the saying, "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Now that I'm older, all I can think is what a joke that really is. I can remember running around on the playground and being made fun of and chanting that stupid saying at whoever was making rude comments to me. I was always being made fun of for being so short. To this day, that continues. Short comments and jokes really don't phase me anymore. I'm totally satisfied with being 5'1''. I come from a small family and wouldn't fit in if I were any taller!

These days though, other words really do get me down. I've began to realize over the last few months how much people's words really do hurt me. I'm normally pretty good at rolling with the punches and pretending to be mad, but just laughing whatever it is off. I'm learning a lot about myself as I have the time to sit and think to myself. I'm learning that I am so sick of faking things and really am affected by what people say to me.

Being told I'm dumb or that I'll never get a job or that I'll never be good enough has really started to take me down. I'm pretty good at talking myself through things and telling myself things of truth. After all, I am a psychology major and have learned all about positive self talk. I can tell myself all the positive things in the world, but where are my friends who are supposed to be repeating those positive things to me? And where I have been in repeating positive words to my friends? I tend to be a pretty sarcastic person and I think I've realized that maybe my rude sarcasm really is just not that funny.

My husband does a great job of reminding me how great he thinks I am, how well I cook, and how much he enjoys my company. He's great at feeding positive thoughts to me. I feel bad that I don't give that positive feedback to him. I do sometimes, but not as often as I should. Friends need to lift one another up...not tear one another down. I need to remember that and I'm hoping the people around me realize that too.

Sticks and stones will break bones, but words can and will hurt you.