Hello, 2018!
It feels good to be settling back into this online space. Connecting with fellow SLPs always feels like a blessing. I hope the holidays treated you well and that you’re back at work feeling refreshed.
January. The month of word picking, resolution making, goal setting madness. It can be invigorating or overwhelming. Or both.
What if this was the year to speak life as a way of life?
Several years ago the singer Toby Mac released a song that articulates the power of our speech to bring life. Even though you’ve probably heard it a thousand times, take a look at the lyrics with your clinical glasses firmly in place.
“Speak Life” by Toby Mac
Some days, life feels perfect.
Other days it just ain’t workin’.
The good, the bad, the right, the wrong
And everything in between.
Though it’s crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart through the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die
So speak life, speak life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak life.
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why.
Look into the eyes of the broken-hearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak…
You speak life, you speak life.
Some days the tongue gets twisted;
Other days my thoughts just fall apart.
I do, I don’t, I will, I won’t,
It’s like I’m drowning in the deep.
Well it’s crazy to imagine,
Words from our lips as the arms of compassion,
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die.
Lift your head a little higher,
Spread the love like fire,
Hope will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the words you say.
Raise your thoughts a little higher,
Use your words to inspire,
Joy will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the things you say.
So speak life, speak life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak life.
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why.
Look into the eyes of the broken-hearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak…
You speak life, you speak life.
Cool huh? I love how this song connects the power of our words with what we do on a daily basis in our jobs.
As humans, we have been given the gift of communication. As SLPs, we have unique insight into the value, design, and power of such treasure. This connection could be the key to helping us remember the WHY behind WHAT we do.
Maybe those of us dedicated to improving the speech and language of our clients could also be ambassadors for the speak life movement.
This year may we be mindful of the intersections between what we know as professionals and what we practice as ordinary people. Regardless of our resolutions and goals, may we choose to practice speaking life as a way of life.
What is one thing that you have found to be helpful in the art of speaking life?
and get A Blessing for the Speech Pathologist,
a free printable to
help you remember your WHY
