i've been thinking a lot about words lately. it's kind of a wordy time of year for me- the school year ends tomorrow, which means writing lots of notes to staff and saying goodbye to kids. when it comes to talking to kids, i'm a big believer in saying as little as possible. but at this point when it comes to choosing my last words to them, i find myself struggling to distill everything i want to say to them into a couple sentences, mostly because i don't want to say goodbye.
i've also been writing intake reports for new clients seemingly non-stop this month, which brings a different challenge: how to document a family's sometimes complicated history in a few sentences while honoring the uniqueness of their story. i know it's just agency paperwork but when i'm writing, i imagine the family members reading along over my shoulder and i wonder how they feel about my version of their history.
when trying to use words, i most often feel disappointed in their ineffectiveness. words are- no other way to say it- weak sauce. i don't like to talk about my feelings because they sound flat and one-dimensional when i try to put them into words. "i'm sad" could apply to being out of ice cream just as well as describing a sleepless night of grief. customers in san francisco would say "that's perfect!" if i was able to fit all of their purchases into one bag; i'd think- really? perfection = efficient bagging?? primo levi compares the inadequacy of words to "trying to plow with a feather" ("A Tranquil Star"). and it's definitely not just me. i hear people spewing words extravagantly all day long, but really saying nothing much, just filling up space. it's a kind of noise pollution.
and yet, here i am, writing another blog post, contributing to the smog. in front of me lies a blank thank you card, which in turn lies on top of a client's intake form.
the best use of words i've heard in a long time came from a 5th grader yesterday, when the graduating students gave their one sentence personal statements. many kids mentioned what they were good at or what they were proud of. then a slim girl with shiny hair stepped up to the microphone and said, quietly and deliberately:
i've also been writing intake reports for new clients seemingly non-stop this month, which brings a different challenge: how to document a family's sometimes complicated history in a few sentences while honoring the uniqueness of their story. i know it's just agency paperwork but when i'm writing, i imagine the family members reading along over my shoulder and i wonder how they feel about my version of their history.
when trying to use words, i most often feel disappointed in their ineffectiveness. words are- no other way to say it- weak sauce. i don't like to talk about my feelings because they sound flat and one-dimensional when i try to put them into words. "i'm sad" could apply to being out of ice cream just as well as describing a sleepless night of grief. customers in san francisco would say "that's perfect!" if i was able to fit all of their purchases into one bag; i'd think- really? perfection = efficient bagging?? primo levi compares the inadequacy of words to "trying to plow with a feather" ("A Tranquil Star"). and it's definitely not just me. i hear people spewing words extravagantly all day long, but really saying nothing much, just filling up space. it's a kind of noise pollution.
and yet, here i am, writing another blog post, contributing to the smog. in front of me lies a blank thank you card, which in turn lies on top of a client's intake form.
the best use of words i've heard in a long time came from a 5th grader yesterday, when the graduating students gave their one sentence personal statements. many kids mentioned what they were good at or what they were proud of. then a slim girl with shiny hair stepped up to the microphone and said, quietly and deliberately:
"I am strong and calm in crazy situations."
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