My relationship with words haven’t always been the best. I’ve used a fair share of all types of words such as negative, positive, hopefully inspiring, and sarcastic. Words can be so simple yet so powerful when being said or written down. Often times we just ramble, whatever comes out of our mouths comes out and we don’t really think how others will interpret it.

One way words have let me down was when I was in 5th grade. My parents fought nonstop and I was at that age where I could partially understand but some things I had no clue. However what word I wasn't familiar with was divorce, which was what my parents fighting led up to. My little sister and I didn't know families could become broken really until a day came when all I could hear was cursing. Luckily my little sister wasn't home but sadly I was and I remember hearing "it's over, I don't love you anymore." Now those words I did understand but they were words that didn't make a little girl in 5th grade very happy. Later that night my parents both sat me down because they thought I was getting to the age where I could take and handle it, they told me how mommy and daddy wouldn't be together anymore. From 5th grade to now, my parents divorce and the words they used towards each other up until this day destroys me and the pain still hasn't really gone away.

Words are not always negative and hurtful though, some can be inspiring and motivating. During the end of my summer and beginning of freshman year in high school my great friend passed away. He was my friend for 12 years and he truly left impacts on so many lives including mine. I was hurt and lashed out of anger with words, that was until his mother had all of his close friends over at their house. My friend who passed away loved music and one of his favorites was Kirk Franklin. Kirk Franklin came to speak to us and was trying to help us get a better understanding why something like this could happen to such a great human. He tried and tried but we just didn’t really care and pay attention which was wrong of us but all we could think was, why our friend and why now? That was all until he began to sing “I Smile” which is one of his songs, and once he begun we all listened and it brought tears to all of us. Happy tears though because the song reminded us so much of our friend and his smile that was unforgettable. Without the song “I Smile” and the lyrics to that song I don’t know if I would’ve been able to cut out the negativity.