Dear Readers,
I’ve learned something important in life: if you have nothing kind to say, it’s better to stay silent. And if you can’t support someone, at least don’t clip their wings.
I remember a time when I saw someone’s dreams being crushed before they could even take flight. A young artist, full of life, passion, and colour, shared their work with the world. It wasn’t perfect, but you could see the fire in their eyes. Their hands moved like magic across the canvas, creating something raw and real.
Then, the world spoke. “You’re not good enough.” “Try something else.” “Why waste your time?”
The fire dimmed. The colors faded. The hands that once painted so freely trembled with doubt.
I stood there, watching it happen, knowing I had a choice. I could join the crowd, say something critical, or worse say nothing at all. But then I thought, What if my words could be the wind beneath their wings instead of the chains that held them down?
So I spoke. “This is beautiful.” “You have something special.” “Don’t stop.”
And in that moment, I saw a flicker of light, a spark reignited. The brush moved again. The artist painted.
Life has taught me that words can build or break, lift or crush. I choose to lift. Because everyone deserves a chance to fly.
JacobM