I miss writing. Sometimes I read what I've written and I'm surprised by my own words, thoughts, or feelings. I'm that person who will come across old journals, read a few entries and tear the written-on pages out, just to save the rest of the notebook. I even delete old entries when I come across my old livejournal page.
I think part of what scares me about writing is how permanent it is. Once written, especially nowadays, it can be searched, copied, or retweeted. This can be done with or without my knowledge. That makes me hesitant to put anything down on paper. Speaking always seemed more transient, though now I recognize the fallacy in thinking that way.
Recently, something happened that reminded me how our words can affect other people. In that sense, conversations that happen in the moment are often much more raw than those over email or even IM. When typing, one can hit backspace as many times as needed. One can even delete a whole entry (or blog). When speaking, however, one can't ever take it back. Once spoken, those words have escaped into the surrounding air. Any efforts to take it back or to rephrase only adds to the clutter of the offending words.
It's interesting what we remember of other people's words. You never know what it is you've said that I'll hang on to for years to come. I know I am often surprised by what others remember of my words. Something I said offhand or in passing often lingers in the minds of others. That gives me pause.
This incident was a good reminder to be careful when I choose my words. While a verbal offer can be rescinded, a lie exposed, or a promise broken, it is impossible to forget the original words and the contrasting emotions when the the illusion is shattered.
What do you want others to remember?
