How Words Can Help

by Martina E. Faulkner [originally posted on ‘Unique and Universal’ on Substack]

It should come as no surprise that I love words. What you may not know is that I always have. Somewhere in a box in the basement (or multiple boxes, probably) I have small journals from when I was 11 or 12 in which I kept quotes. I so loved reading others’ words that even my friends knew to give me quote books for events like my birthday. In my opinion, words are the most powerful tool we have when it comes to being a human in relationship with other humans—perhaps only outdone by the ability to take perspective.

We consume words on a daily basis. We actually consume them second-by-second, though most of us aren’t fully aware of it. If they’re not in our environment, they’re in our heads: a constant stream of words flowing throughout our day, guiding us in one direction or another. This means, I think, that when we can raise our awareness to the words we use and the words we consume, we can directly impact the quality of our life.

In my own life, I have used words as a vehicle of expression. For the most part, you probably know my writing from the self-help perspective. However, did you know that I also write fiction and poetry? Perhaps not… but now you can! I used to think poetry was something only for “intellectuals” as most of what we were fed in school was a bit high-brow. But that’s simply not true. In my opinion, poetry is one of the best vehicles for expressing emotion through words. It leans on symbolism, cadence, rhythm, and brevity. It allows us to break rules, emphasize, and highlight our thoughts and feelings in ways that prose could never permit.

Today, is the release day for my new book of poetry, and I couldn’t feel more proud or excited. Even though it’s the most vulnerable I have allowed myself to be in any of my work to-date, it’s also the most visceral, honest, and pure. And because it’s poetry, it’s a perfect example of what makes us all unique, but also makes the human experience universal. We all know loss, just as we all know hope. Being able to relate to another’s experience is one of the greatest gifts we receive from reading—and specifically from reading poetry.

So, give yourself the gift of a luxurious cup of tea and a few quiet moments of reading another’s words, like mine! You can get your copy of Love and Pain today (I promise it’s not high-brow), by clicking the link below. As always, thank you and I hope you enjoy it!