Shakespeare was right: words can be like swords. Put together the ”s” from the end of the first word to the beginning of the next one and you’ll have ”word, sword, swords”. We make use of words to express our thoughts, opinions, to ask for something, to give a compliment, give feedback, clarify something, negotiate, shout, whisper, joke, write a poem or prose, a report, to philosophize, to express our fears or love, to talk on a Zoom meeting or expose our status on social media.
But, words, the same words, can be perceived as swords by others. Words thrown with or without intention can fall on someone’s soft skin, on a being about we did not know they had vulnerabilities (who doesn’t, anyway?). Maybe sometimes clarification is pointless.
Maybe we don’t need to put spotlights everywhere.
I once had a plant I was not supposed to expose in the sunlight for too long, otherwise, it would stop growing.
Too much light can cause damage.
Sometimes delicacy should take clarity’s place. And words to build, if possible, with grace.