The air smelled of cinnamon and pine as our family and friends poured into that house on Green Valley Drive. It was Christmas Eve and my young Mom and Dad were hosting one of their very first parties as new parents. With all of the commotion, I can remember thinking that I was free to do whatever I wanted. In my two-year old mind, the possibilities were endless. So of course,  I head for the pantry to play with cans. Reaching and tottering with instability, my tiny fingers could just barely grasp the large can of green beans. I pull with enthusiasm as it topples down and crushes my toes.  In an instant, panic overwhelms me, and I scream in pain. Almost instantly, my mom had me in her arms asking what was wrong, but I could neither tell her nor show her. Wanting to keep her guests entertained, she quickly changes my diaper and nothing is fixed. This is my earliest memory—spanning from a time when I had little vocabulary. What use is there in crying if you can’t explain why? I believe in the power of language as the single greatest power unique to mankind.

Besides being a vital component for communication, language in literature has always been incredibly influential. When I got Scarlet Fever after reading Little Women, I just knew that I was going to die like Joe did in the book, and after reading RL Stein’s Goosebumps, I lived in fear that if I ever put a mask on, it would be forever stuck to my face, or that my family and friends might start uncontrollably oozing blue liquid out of their mouths. For days, I moped over the death of the two dogs in Where the Red Fern Grows  -- devastated that such sweet animals could be gone. What is it about these words—fundamentally ink and paper, that cause such emotion? Why is it that something I read can haunt me and change the way I do things?

Literature can inspire entire revolutions-- creating shifts in religious fundamentals and even starting wars. By combining a mere twenty-six letters, we can create chaos. Therefore, we must choose our words wisely. Knowing when or when not to say something is often the best thing we can do to further a relationship. The success of a statement is all about timing. If a girl asks you, “Does this shirt make me look fat?” and you respond with, “Where I’m from, obesity suggests prosperity,” she will probably not be very happy with you. However, if you can somehow manage to save this fun fact for a conversation like “Wow it’s very interesting how different cultures view wealth.” (insert statement), you could probably get away with it. She might even be impressed with your knowledge!

If someone is trying to manipulate you, most often they will use words. When combined, words carry a lot of emotion, and can often influence people to do things they normally might not have. Expand your vocabulary, and maybe even learn another language. It is our right as human beings to express ourselves through words. We might as well take full advantage of it.