Nkem sat at the corner of the room, head tucked between her knees, silently crying. She couldn’t believe the words thrown at her just minutes ago. She had put on a brave face and acted like they did not cut like a knife.
But the words did. And as soon as she stepped into her room, the tears came.
She had been made a laughing stock because of her stutter. It was not the first time. For most of her life, she had to endure the wisecracks, the jokes, and the mimicry. But for some reason, this one especially hurt.
And so, Nkem swore to reduce her words from that day. If no one heard her speak, maybe they wouldn’t make fun of her anymore.
We all have insecurities as humans, manifesting in various forms. You name it! Sometimes, these concerns may be false and sometimes, true. At the end of the day, we become defensive because we are scared that people will take advantage of us if they had the inkling about it.
Laughter shared in the company of others is always a moment we look forward to. Lots of magazines and online publications have repeatedly emphasized the benefits of laughter and how it cleanses the soul. While I’m all for that, I sometimes wonder why we are quick to laugh at the expense of another person.
It is a common practice among friends to make funny remarks and comments about people and cover this under the popular slang called “yab”. I was guilty of this for a long time until I realized the hurt it caused. It is never worth it.
Yabbing has just one principle you have to follow – never yab with that which is true. Okay, maybe I entirely made this up, but I have discovered that it has helped me in my relationship with people.
Following this rule, insecurities like Nkem’s stutter, for example, would never be brought up as a joke to be laughed at. Doing this will make me insensitive and chip away at the other party’s self-confidence.
Your words could be someone’s breaking point and nobody loves to hang around people who make them feel bad about themselves. This is something we all know, but how come we continue to make these jokes despite the knowledge that they hurt?
It is time we appreciate that our words have the power to kill or make a person. Your tongue should build and not destroy.
We are halfway into the week, one that will present us with numerous opportunities for change. Before you crack that joke in a bid to become the life of a gathering, consider again. If it is going to poke at a person’s insecurities, then it does not cost anything to keep quiet.
Let us collectively decide to watch the words we say. If your words are not going to be uplifting, they shouldn’t be said. And maybe, through our words, people can look in the mirror and love who they see, irrespective of the insecurities they have.
To comment on this, kindly input “admin” as the username and password if a prompt requests for this. This shows for first-time comments only.
Love
Diane.
