Underestimating the Alphabet

The universe of words is vast and infinite; every word takes you on a journey of its own.

As an admirer of words, I have always been awestruck by the fact that how a few letters combined can be so beautiful and terrifying, or at times, both. Making one experience, all the highs, and the lows, and sometimes, somewhere in between. Words are a source of happiness, anger, passion, pain, grief, and a range of other complex sentiments. Bringing worlds together and tearing them apart, it is perplexing how simply some words thrown together in a sentence are poignant.

We, as human beings, often neglect how powerful words can be. Amidst the commotion of our mediocre and extraordinaire lives, we have strapped the significance of words in the backseat and forgotten about it. We tend not to pay heed to our word choices and the outcome they bring, losing ourselves in all the meaningless conversations.

It’s high time we realize that the words we choose have a lasting effect. The words our neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family use, or the lack thereof, carry immense weight. It can make or break people’s days and even lives.

Words are moments of impact. How we plan to make an impact is entirely in our hands. Either by not thinking before speaking, and using the ruthless vocabulary causing hearts to shatter, or using them to impart kindness, inspiration, and love. These words make us resonate with emotions we didn’t know we could even possess.

To understand the importance of words, they need to be explored. Traversing through a depth of a single word, or words, in every nook and cranny of our lives. Whether it is through a tête-à-tête, a book, or even our thoughts. We need to make connections with words, which would help us in making connections with one another.

The thing that has really made me connect with the beauty of words is reading, whether it is fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. One of my fondest memories, as a child, is associated with reading Hamdard Naunehal, and gaining the treasure of countless stories and wisdom that I will cherish forever. From Jane Austen to F. Scott Fitzgerald, from Mitch Albom to J.K Rowling, from Jodi Picoult to Umera Ahmed, From Dylan Thomas to Faiz Ahmed Faiz – all these literary geniuses have been impactful in one way or the other; reminding us of the essence of words, every time they put their pens to paper.

The only conclusion I have reached is that words are artistic in nature. All kinds of words. The ones we have said, the ones that have been said to us, and the ones left unsaid. The ones we think about, and the ones we sing about. The ones we read and the ones we write. They either embrace you with peace or explode into chaos. It is up to us to decide what kind of weapon we want our words to be. Which cause to choose; the good or the bad.

So, be kind with your words. Have conversations that matter. Pick up a piece of literature and let its words devour you completely and understand the magic words can bring in this melancholy of life.