As I was celebrating a brand new day on Saturday, something that diverted my happiness occurred. This friend of mine addressed me as a minor. To her it sounded normal but for me I’ve never gotten over it.

Search your heart, isn’t there anytime you ill spoke someone or arrogantly uttered unnecessary words to them?

Especially ladies, their mouths have become weapons to use against others. Indeed sharp words have been used to tarnish big names or to bring others down. Words of insult have replaced humour and compliments.

The more we use the tongue as a measure of fighting back in every situation, the more we encounter problems especially regarding what we mentioned.

People who bring down others with their mouths tend to forget the incident but those brought down or affected never forget, even after several years.

We all have lingering childhood memories but it is always the unfair words that never cease from our hearts. They keep ringing like bells in our minds even after a very long time.
"I still curse my auntie for always referring to me as lazy and dull,” says Rachael Mbabazi.

Uncalled for words ruin characters and make people lose focus. Rumour has it that the late Pop Star Michael Jackson went for that deadly surgery because his father would always complain about his ‘ugly’ looks.

"Jackson wanted to have a smaller nose. His dad openly complained about the son’s big nose. Meanwhile he complimented Janet Jackson, Michael’s sister on having a long pointed nose,” goes the Net quote.

If Jackson’s dad had complimented him instead, who knows if he would still be alive!

The holy bible refers to the tongue as a fire and the basis of all iniquity. It defiles the whole body and sends on fire the whole nature. [James: 3:6]

In other words, a single statement can cause a lot of trouble and mess up many lives!

It’s understandable that anger can be mostly revealed by talking though it never yields any benefits.

Speech is silver but silence is gold. The more you stay silent about something, the more you forget and forgive. When you choose to shout about it, you’ll get more embarrassed and disappointed. It gets worse when that who has offended is not bothered.

Also, replacing negativity with the positive helps. In case a friend offends you, at least remember any slight good they have ever done for you.

There are thousands of ways to express oneself other than gossiping or uttering offensive words.

Mind that no one knows their fate and destiny. How would you feel if you landed in a situation where it’s only the person you ruined to rescue you?

Silence also gives you dignity but if you decide to become that noisy person who shouts about everything and ill talks others, no one will ever take you seriously.

Our dignity is too important to be lost; let’s not let others read our minds.

Being a chatter box isn’t the best we can be. Besides, let people yearn to know our secrets other than us leaving them in the open for all to see.

Ends