Words Are Needles

I went to my office yesterday and found a letter in the mailbox.  It was a real, handwritten letter in my mailbox.  Opening it, I found a card that read, “I read your blog today… Thank you for being a messenger and sounding a clear note of love for all of us to hear (we so need reminding).  You have an angel voice.  Peace to you and deep healing.”   What a way to make someone’s day!?  That was incredible!

I sat in complete surprise.  Here is a person I don’t even know, writing to me to tell me something encouraging.  And she didn’t even email it!

I was happy for the rest of the day.  Thinking about it made me remember something I learned in acupuncture school, “Words are needles.”  We use needles to create openings, encourage things along, unblock communication between energy pathways.  We can also use them to shut down communication, discourage movement and create certain blocks.  All of this is done in the name of healing.  Can you see where I’m going with this?

Our words can do the same things.  I am new to blogging.  I haven’t read too many as what I find tends to be trivial, mental self-massage, or opinionated.  It’s a challenge to find anything meaningful for me.  When I started this blog, my intention was to create small offerings from my own experience as I wander through this life.  This card, a small but grand gesture is telling me that I’m succeeding.  It is a needle that inspired me to continue on this path.

I am reminded of the words I use each day and the way I use them.  I question: Am I creating opening or shut down, encouragement or criticism.  What’s my purpose in speaking?  How do I want my words to land? Do my words create healing or harm?

I get in a lot of trouble- often funny- for speaking without thinking about these things.  The more I take a moment, the less I find myself in opposition or having created harm.

Still, sometimes things just pop out!