Sticks and Stones

Now and then, I think of an episode of a daytime talk show I saw decades ago. A guest on the show had been homeless, addicted to heroin. Luckily, she managed to turn her life around. During the course of the segment, she figured out that she had started using drugs because she didn’t feel good about herself, and it all stemmed from being made fun as a kid for the clothes she wore. It stuck with me what a tremendous impact an insult can make. But the good news is, a compliment or kind gesture can also be life-changing. Whenever I think of this story, I try to be extra nice to the next person talk to.  

Photo: Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, GA