Last fall, I went on vacation and was surrounded by but socially distanced from other vacationing strangers. I wore blue shorts one day with a white tee shirt. Printed on the tee shirt in blue letters were these words, “BE KIND TODAY! LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” One of those vacationing strangers said to me in passing, “Thank you for the reminder.” Being the courteous person that I am, I replied, “Thank you?” My thank you was a question because in the moment, I didn’t have a clue as to the origin of his statement. Later that day I looked in the mirror and understood, “Thank you for the reminder.”
I am not a fan of tee shirts. I am even less a fan of tee shirts with writing on them. At the end of last summer, I purchased two white ones with words that spoke to me, the one described and another embroidered with three small flowerpots and the words, “YOU GROW GIRL.”
Fast forward to mid-January, my husband dressed for the day in a navy tee shirt with the words “AVOID NEGATIVITY” and a math equation on the front. It wasn’t the first time he had worn the shirt nor was it the words that were emblazoned on it…I embrace the sentiment of the words. For some reason, the shirt heightened my awareness why tee shirts with words turn me off.
My body is a human walking billboard. What is on it communicates a message to others. Why else would companies spent billions of dollars yearly printing tee shirt with their slogans and trademarks on them. Every time the garment is worn, and the logo/message is seen, the product/thought is promoted free of charge by the wearer. If the shirt cost money, then the wearer paid to do the promoting. This is not a good deal.
The two tee shirts referenced, communicated to the world an idea that is important to me… Be kind, love one another, grow where one is planted. My husband’s shirt, given to him by a dear friend, advertised one of our family mantras, avoid negative people and thoughts wherever possible.
Words have energy and power. I want what is written across my chest to reflect what is hidden in my heart.
1 Corinthians 6:19
PONDER THIS THOUGHT---Words can be a bridge to cross a chasm or plunge one into it. TREAT THEM WITH CARE.
NOTE: These last blogs have centered on words…assess how you communicate best, silence may not be the best choice in all situations and pay attention to the subtle ways word unintentionally communicate your desired message. Did you have any luminous thoughts?
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