‘Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do

when they settle ‘neath your skin.

Stuck on the inside with no sunlight

sometimes the shadow wins’

The words above are from the song Brave by American singer, Sara Bareilles (one of my faves). In the chorus, she sings…’say what you wanna say, and let the words fall out...’ There’s something very frustrating about being with someone and not being able to say the words that are heavy on your heart and mind. Despite their weight and your mental determination to say them, they just don’t seem to come out on demand – almost like your momentarily shortcircuiting.  Every time you miss an opportunity to speak your mind it’s almost like the words haunt you. Dancing in your peripheral vision, so close at the tip of your tongue but yet so far.

Words can be two-edged swords, so for me when I find myself in these situations the fear which causes me to hold back is due to the unpredictability of the consequences. The recipient(s) may take it well, or may not at all. Your message may be received and understood clear as day…or not at all. It does mostly depend on the person you want to confide in but sometimes even the closest of people may not handle confessions well, everyone’s human so everyone’s unpredictable. But it also makes such confessions admittedly more stressful!

Sometimes you have to close your eyes and say it. Hope that they’ll open their ears and hold your words with willing hands. That they’ll ask questions but be sympathetic and understand. Delivery is important of course but I would say words said with love and out in the open are sometimes better than no words said at all. Words left on the back shelf, wrapped in the dust of regret. And who wants that?

Do any moments come to mind where you’re grateful you said something instead of being silent?

*Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash