Word Nerd Wednesday: Let it Flow
Happy Word Nerd Wednesday! September is leading the way toward fall (glory, hallelujah!) and as summer draws to a close, so too does my Word Nerd Wednesday series. I’ll be starting a new series of something entirely different in October. I can’t wait to tell you about it, but for now, for our final word story, I’d like to introduce you to a lady named Valerie.
Valerie is the life of the party. Everyone wants her at their social functions, not just because she’s a fun person, but because she’s able to carry on a conversation with anyone. She fills any awkward silence with a natural ease. All those around her appreciate and marvel at Val’s ability.
“Val’s ability” = volubility (vol-yuh-BIL-uh-ti), meaning fluency or characterized by a continuous flow of words. It’s the gift of the gab, a natural dexterity with speaking. It’s a positive trait that could easily turn into a negative one, morphing into a chatty talkativeness that overwhelms and drains other people. But when it’s used well, it becomes a powerful tool and whoever wields this tool is an asset to any gathering of people.
Words can be magical. Conversations have the power to create connections between strangers, illuminate shared experiences, or simply offer the good medicine of laughter. Some people have a special ability to pour words forth like water. Those words can be a flood that drowns everyone. Or they can be a refreshing river, wrapping around people and inviting them to join in.
What makes the difference is the focus of the speaker—on herself or the people around her, whether she’s releasing words just because she wants to, focusing solely on her own needs, or is shaping and directing her words to meet the needs of those around her. That focus, on oneself or on others, can make all the difference in the world. A simple shift in focus has the power to change everything.