Words: your most valuable asset

My jaw dropped when I checked my library account last week: $76 in fines. Our house sits at the crossroads of several suburbs and I carry cards to four different libraries whose systems, bafflingly, aren’t integrated. Each library has distinct borrowing limits, renewal policies, and fine forgiveness programs (whew!).

One of the libraries (automatic renewals and great architecture!) has a brilliant notation on the due date receipts: it shows a year-to-date total of the money you saved by borrowing those books from the library instead of buying them outright.

It was fascinating. I checked out 57 books last fall from that library alone and my receipt reported that I saved over $1,500!

Every week I stroll through shelves, piling book after book into my arms until I have a wobbly walk to the car, balancing armfuls of books and water bottles and digging car keys from my bag.

But the receipt (and my fines!) reminded me this week of how expensive words really are.

We use words a LOT. Spoken. Texted. Typed. In the sheer volume of words we toss around, it can become easy to forget their value.

But think of the weight of these words:

• You’re having twins!

• I’m sorry, but we have to let you go.

• With this ring, I thee wed.

• Dinner was nice, but I’d like to stay friends.

They’re powerful, right?

Certain words “unlock” opportunities like second dates, jobs, scholarships, and friendships. Others…don’t. But we use words so much that it can be easy to fling them around and forget their weight.

I saw this week that I’ve begun to take the easy access to libraries for granted and forgotten the real cost of those books. In the same way, we get both eager and sloppy with our communication because of the sheer volume of words we use every day.

To remember the weight and worth of the words you use, I challenge you to do a check-in:

• when are you actively communicating with people?

• what mediums do you use?

• do you plan out your words when you head into a conversation?

• how intentional are you when you write something online?

• do you review work emails or text messages before sending?

Words are powerful, both in what we say and in what we don’t say.

This week: spend wisely.

Until next time!

Emily M.

P.S. You should also get a library card. Highly recommend. Don’t let my fine story scare you away—I returned the materials and the balance went to $0! :)

P.P.S. I’m making some big changes to my website style…more on that next week! Check this out if you’re curious in the meantime.