WORDS ARE MEANINGLESS

"What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say."  -  Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

My mind has been churning.

A couple of weeks ago I read a blog post about 'three things men should say to women more often". I liked the post and shared it on Facebook. One of my friends and long-time supporters of Secrets of a Romance Writer's Husband commented, "saying it is nice, meaning it is even better".

Last week on my BlogTalk Radio show with guest Alisa Bowman the conversation turned to giving romance advice. I am often asked for such advice and I said I turn the request around and pose this question:

All other things being equal, if you suddenly lost the ability to speak and could never say the words “I love you” to your partner, if they never could hear those words from your lips again, how would they know you loved them? 

The point is, it is not your words but your actions that truly convey your feelings.

Words ARE important. Words can be beautiful and moving. They can be hurtful and destructive. Words can be many things and evoke many emotions, but words are symbols. They represent other things. Thoughts, ideas, emotions, actions, objects, places, and on and on. They are the labels we place on things born from nature, from our imagination, and from our heart. The labels, however are not those things.

When someone "gives their word" there is an expectation. This expectation is met only when the actions are consistent with the words. Ultimately, words have no meaning unless backed by sincere sentiment and consistent action. I'll say it again, words have no meaning unless backed by sincere sentiment and consistent action. 

Valentine's Day upon us. That time of year when romance writer's are tapped for interviews and advice on romance. When thousands are heading to the store to clog the card aisle. When heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are being sold by the truck load and guys are shelling out $100 for a dozen roses that normally cost $25. If want my advice on romance this Valentine's Day...I will ask you again:

All other things being equal, if you suddenly lost the ability to speak and could never say the words “I love you” to your partner, if they never could hear those words from your lips again, how would they know you loved them?

Valentine's Day is a good start but please, men AND ladies, let's see if we can do it all year. Remember, CONSISTENT action. Not constant, that's too unrealistic. CONSISTENT. Walk the walk. Consider it a challenge. Join me in a new movement, and our mantra is simple. Repeat after me:

WORDS ARE MEANINGLESS

Let's see some action.

"I think one's feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results." - Florence Nightingale