I'm really, really homesick.
Homesick! That's it, exactly. As a writer, finding the right word was incredibly helpful.
And that wasn't the only weekend example of the importance of each and every word. While making an outline for a talk about my faith journey, I wrote, "I attend Beth Torah." Then, automatically, I crossed that out and wrote, "I belong to Beth Torah."
There's a huge difference between attending and belonging. I know. I attended the synagogue of my youth. I never belonged there.
Words matter. Today, appreciate every word. Choose yours thoughtfully and with care. Words shape our relationships, frame our beliefs. They matter, whether you're a writer or not.
P.S. I wrote this post on 9/11, and noticed when I signed on that this is post number 911 on the CI blog. Weird. And, speaking of 9/11, if you have a chance to see the documentary, Voices from Inside the Towers, I strongly recommend it. There's a mother interviewed who is so strong, so smart. And when she talks about hearing the news that her beloved son had died, her words are heartbreakingly perfect.
2 comments:
Love that you used the word "homesick". I completely understand what you mean. The definition of home has changed dramatically. One of the positive ways? It's now CLEAN!
A comment from the male perspective of being an empty nester (year 2): the word for me is a phrase: "It's quiet. Too quiet." And for another, inspirational perspective on 9/11 (year 10), catch MSNBC's "Trial and Triumph: Wall Street After 9/11." It's the story of firms in WTC that rebuilt themselves while never forgetting the families of those employees who died.
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