Recently, while cleaning out my files, I came across a folder from 2002 labeled, "Words to Live By". My mind became flooded with memories of how that folder came to be: I was in my last year of naturopathic school and preparing for my national board exam. I remember how tired and overwhelmed I felt. I had absolutely little to no time for myself and had three children who wanted all of my attention. Even if their father were sitting right next to me, they would come and whine to me. Even if their father were in the kitchen, they would come to me for a glass of water. I once asked my husband how he was able to cloak himself in front of the children. I really wanted to learn that trick.

Looking back I must admit that I lost a great deal of time with my children. But you know, back then, all I could hear were the words that came out of their mouths. It wasn’t just with the kids. Even my interactions with other adults were mundane and well, wordy. It seemed that words became so muffled – I was just hearing words, not really caring about the meaning of those words.

It all changed after my daughter’s high school graduation in 2003. She was the valedictorian and she wouldn’t let me hear her speech until the day of graduation. Her speech captivated the audience! She was animated; her voice loud and strong, and she spoke as if addressing each student personally. The words seemed so profound, so esoteric, and so heavy. It was as if a light bulb went off inside my head. I loved her words. I turned to my other two children and my husband and exclaimed: Did you hear that beautiful speech? I then wondered what other wonderful words had I missed? For about a week I walked around carrying a little pad and pen. I proceeded to write down things that my family would say to each other. By the end of the week I had quite a list of rather funny statements, insightful points, and poignant stories. I still have that list, and I treasure it to this day.

Do you find yourself just going through the motions of hearing words day in and day out but not really listening to and understanding their meaning? Comedian, Bill Cosby used to have this show called, Kids Say the Darnest Things. I read that he rarely rehearsed the shows because he wanted the children to be natural. If he told them in advance what questions he would ask then their answers would be rehearsed and wooden. He didn’t want that. And if you have children you know that the things that come out of their mouths are sometimes absolutely brilliant! The spontaneity and innocence of youth is what made that show so amazing! The words that came out of those children’s mouths were absolutely priceless!! Sometimes I would laugh so hard that tears would stream down my face. My husband and kids would come in and ask why I was crying. Sometimes the laughter was so strong that I couldn’t catch my breath and had to just point to the television set. Those episodes were some of the most cathartic times in my life! The laughter turned into tears, the hyperventilation turned into body shaking, and the pure physicalness of the experience would lead to some of the best night sleep ever.

Do you find yourself doing so much, that after awhile, it seems the business is just a lot of doing nothing? Many of us are so desensitized or unfocused that we miss so much of the beauty that surrounds us each day. We often miss those amazing words. Those amazing words don’t just come out of our children’s mouths but if you listen closely you will hear something amazing from friends, coworkers, parents, siblings, strangers, and even your pets. Well, your pets might not actually verbalize, but watch the physical expressions of a pet that is happy. They can be so amazing!

Try and be spontaneous and youthful today – enjoy the words around you! In health and wellness!

Dr. Linda Mundorff is a registered nurse and a board certified traditional naturopath. She provides clients an alternate to traditional medicine that focuses on natural living and healthier lifestyle choices and supports passionately self-advocacy in health care for legislation that provides health care benefits for everyone. Her new book, “Take Control: A Guide to Holistic Living” is now available. Graphic courtesy of Discovery Channel clipart.