A Kid On My School Bus Said 5 Words To Me And I Haven't Been The Same Since
The incident that changed my life must have happened around 1997, on a morning school bus ride. I used to watch other kids do this all the time, so of course I had to try it too. But something happened on that ride that I had no idea would still be affecting me well into my 30s.
Was it a near death experience? No. A life-changing amount of money? Also no, lol.
I wore sandals to school. And as soon as I sat down I heard, “you have really long toes.”
That was it. I never wore sandals again.
Was it as dramatic as I had fun making it sound? Not really. But it genuinely was a life-altering experience, and here’s why.
Even now in my 30s, I recently bought a pair just to wear around the house. But outside? Never. Maybe the beach, and that’s still a HARD maybe. The drive-thru window gets a a cameo every now and then, but that’s about it!
I tell you that story because I grew up hearing “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” And sure, there’s some truth to it. But I’ve come to believe words can absolutely break your mind and your heart. Think about the moment the love of your life calls you and says “it’s over, I’m with someone else now.” That cuts deeper than any stick ever could. Words have driven people to their lowest points. They carry real weight.
That same weight is exactly what makes words so powerful in the other direction too. “I have a dream.” Four words that most people on earth would recognize instantly. Words that didn’t just inspire a speech, they helped inspire a movement.
And the words you say to yourself? Just as powerful, maybe more so.
Earl Nightingale put it perfectly in The Strangest Secret. I’ll link it below because it’s worth your time. He compared the mind to fertile soil. Plant a poisonous seed or a healthy one, and the soil doesn’t judge. It just grows whatever you give it, equally and abundantly. Your mind works the same way. Feed it negativity long enough and that’s the only crop you’ll harvest.
That’s why, as much as people love to roll their eyes at them, positive affirmations actually matter. Are they a magic fix? No. But they’re how you make sure you’re planting the right seeds consistently.
Words tell your story. They sell your ideas. They connect you to other people. The way you arrange them is like a composer arranging notes, the same raw material, but the order changes everything. Certain books have been banned throughout history not because of the paper they were printed on, but because of the ideas the words carried. That’s how much power they hold.
So consider this a reminder. Your words, spoken or written, said to others or whispered to yourself, are more powerful than you probably give them credit for. Choose them wisely, make your thoughts heard, and speak your truth.