What we do matters. What we say matters. What we feel matters. All of it matters; every single action we use to take up the time that we are entrusted with on this Earth matters.

The circumstances we face throughout our lives shape us into the people we will be in our next chapter. As we flip the page, I believe in real, raw experiences; no one can take away the emotions we feel in the midst of these moments.

Words are powerful. They dance across pages and through minds long after we write or say them. Words connect us. They provide connections to our past, present, and future. They make us feel. Words have a way of uniting us with our emotions - even when we don't want them to.

Sometimes, words come with joy and familiarity, but too often, they come with hurt and reluctance. Nevertheless, they are still necessary. Those parts of us that we chose to block out are still parts of us. Words have a beautiful way of freeing us from shame and regret. They have the capacity to heal us.

Love and loss and fear escape our hearts through words. Everything we carry in our minds and the deepest parts of our soul have the opportunity to take flight through our words depending on how we choose to construe them.

When we speak or write about the things that have hurt us or the things that have filled us with joy, we become stronger. Letting things out makes us more confident in our decisions. Words that come from our heart provide us with a sense of transparency, and I think that's something we could all use a little more of.

Words are like building blocks. Essentially, everything is built on words. From relationships to jobs to countries, they provide power and meaning for the foundations of our lives.

Under each word we express, there either lies truth or dishonesty. When it is truth that lies beneath the surface, our words will solidify us daily in what we believe, but when dishonesty is hiding below, so many things are broken.

Too frequently, words are used as weapons. We poke, pry, and degrade others with our words. We forget how permanent they are. Even when the air is cleared, the memory of the impulses we express do not go away.

The world is a tough place, but it's our place. I like to think that it's pretty remarkable. Sometimes, we let the bad outweigh the good. We forget that every thing God equipped us with has a special value. The power of words is one of the most valuable forces he gave us.

They are not simple. They are not just about communicating. Words make us feel. They are attached directly to our heart strings, and with every single breath or stroke of the pen, we tug at a different area of someone's heart.

Words lift people up. They can save people's lives. Why do we spend so much time spewing out negative ones? Reflect on what you want to communicate, and what you want people to feel. Never silence yourself or let anyone else silence you out of fear of rejection. If you have something to say, shout it from the rooftops. Own it. Your words matter, and no one can take them away from you. Make them count.