One Word, Five Ways

For the online group Scribbled Lives, we were asked to write one word five different ways. I had been playing with alcohol inks and created this combination gel print & alcohol ink background, so why not try more experimentation? I chose to write WORD five times. Once in black, once in bright pink (upside down), once in orange, once in teal and once in a dark grey. Some are more visible than others. I really had to experiment with which ink would write on alcohol inks and gel printed surfaces, as not all inks play well together. In the end I got it to work to my satisfaction.

I then thought about the times where saying a word or phrase only once is not enough. Here are a few examples…

I love you

I hear you

No

Yes

I’m sorry

Stop

I believe in YOU

We can do it!

There are so many other words we need to express or speak multiple times for emphasis…of course, depending upon how you say it! And what is it about our language and/or listening skills that we have to say a word like No more than once for someone to understand? I’m sure it can be very situationally specific, yet No means NO! Does repeating ourselves give the word more emphasis, more meaning, or truly let people believe what we are saying? With all the words there are in the English language, is repeating the same one over an over again a good or bad habit? Does it add drama, strengthen the message, or diminish our communication skills? Or are we repeating ourselves because no one is listening to us? HHHmmm…things that make you go HHHmmm.

All this reminds me of people who are in public with their children who are running away or misbehaving. “NO” said by my Mom once, we got it. Stop what you are doing or suffer the consequences. Now a days, adults yelling ‘No’ at children reeks of stop or I’ll shout ‘No’ again and again until everyone around us knows that you are NOT listening or obeying me!. It can be frustrating to be on either end of that repeat…one is not listening and the other is being disrespected.

Next time you are in a conversation, listen to hear what words get repeated and by whom? Does repeating help, hinder, or just make people mad? Is it a bad habit or a well placed communication tool? Think about how repeating yourself makes you feel and what it communicates to the intended listener. Maybe what would work better would be one word…then silence. Let that word hit the spot before you speak more words. Never underestimate the power of a well placed pause…