Say It Aloud

I sat on a bar stool with my elbows resting on my friend’s kitchen bench.  The sound of tea making was interspersed with chatter. It was a comfortable scene of familiarity between friends and I’m smiling right now as I recall it.  As the conversation continued, my hands explored the surface beneath me.  I absently ran my index finger around the rim of a small glass in front of me; it was filled with shells.

“This makes me happy,” I said randomly.

“I love how you say that.” She smiled at me, this friend of mine.

“Say what?”

“That things make you happy.”

Until my friend brought it to my notice, I didn’t really realise I said it aloud because I’ve developed this habit of giving life to feelings and objects with words.   It helps me capture the here and now.

In that moment, the shells became the definition of happy. They were such a simple joy!  They made me happy because shells are from the sea, and the seaside sings songs of freedom to me.   I didn’t so much recall but rather connected with the last time I was at the beach with my daughter. All of that in just one small moment.

There’s power in that.

Left unspoken, they were just shells in a glass…

Words are powerful and edifying when spoken in truth.

There’s a butterfly.

You are beautiful.

I like this colour.

The sun is out today.

This necklace makes me happy.

I love you.

It sounds airy fairy but I’ll say it anyway because it’s true to me: When I acknowledge what is often hidden amongst the obvious, it enriches my day, and has the power to make moments, magical.

Say it aloud.