On My Desk – Mindful Words in Stories
It’s not easy to always be mindful of the words that we use, but becoming more aware of them in speech and in writing is important. The right words can send a positive message of hope and positivity for kids. However, negative word choices can impact our brain and stress levels. And, ‘blah’ or ‘ho-hum’ words are just plain boring.
Awareness in Speech
My theme for this month is MINDFULNESS. One inspirational doctor on Instagram described why it’s important to train yourself to be mindful of the words we utilize, especially with the use of the negative word ‘can’t’.
I ‘can’t’ write today. I ‘can’t’ walk outside today. I ‘can’t’ eat healthy today.
Instead, retrain yourself to say how you ‘can’ accomplish something.
I ‘will’ write in the afternoon. I ‘can’ walk tomorrow morning. I ‘will’ eat an apple everyday instead of a cookie.
This type of awareness in speech is a form of MINDFULNESS that kids can learn too.
Vigorous Words
When I write my children’s books, I also try to be mindful of the words that I use. At first, I will jot down the entire story, as it comes out of my head. Then I’ll go back and choose more vigorous or enthusiastic words to make the story rhyme better while still maintaining the message. Lastly, I’ll share with critique peers, taking their advice on better word choices. The story will then get edited many times using various words to help it sing before publication.
How can you be mindful of the words you use?
#wishingyouhealthandwellness
Fun Fact About Me – I Love Word Games
When we go on vacation, I love to read in the car and at the beach. Our cottage is four hours away, and if I’m not driving, I’m usually reading. Same goes if we are traveling out-of-state. Usually, I’ll stock up on library books and bury my face in a book until we arrive.
Thought-Provoking Words
But there is another thing that I love to do. I love word games on my phone. One of my favorites is Wordscapes, but I also enjoy Words with Friends. Learning new words or being reminded of a ‘cool’ word while playing these games is fun for an author. It’s another technique to be mindful of the words that I use. When I find thought-provoking action verbs or adjectives in word games, I’ll try to use it in one of my children’s stories.
Board Games Too
I also like board games that are word related, such as Scrabble or Boggle. These are both entertaining and educational to play with kids too.
What stimulating word games are you playing?
#wishingyouhealthandwellness
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