“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.”

Whoever said this is totally full of shit.

It’s wishful thinking, at best. Words can hurt very much. They can gash like a knife and burn like a fire iron. I have endured more painful experiences through the words of others than I ever will from a stick or a stone.

Name calling works. It has a lasting effect. It can latch onto your mind and stick there for decades. The names we are called by our peers can surface at the most inconvenient of times and we will often gladly adhere to whatever characteristic is assigned to the hateful name.

Fortunately, the same is true for name calling in the positive sense- leader, role model, stud, beast, beauty, hero, and friend. Sometimes, I have to check myself to see if I have verbalized the positive name-calling as frequently as I have called names in the negative sense. Most of my name calling is done behind the other person’s back because that is how cowards generally handle things.

To take part in name-calling, in the positive sense, to pay the compliments that people deserve to hear takes bravery and shows a degree of confidence. If you have a name that you think someone deserves to be called and there is the possibility of lifting them up, send them a text, give them a call, or slide over to their cubicle and say it to their face, today. This kind of name calling has a lasting effect and it works for both parties.

Toughen up and say something nice.

Peace, Love, and all things Beef related,

Beefcake