Based from a Latter-day Saint hymn, BYUH ohana shares their thoughts on what kind words mean and why it matters to them
In a world full of harshness and toxicity, it is easier to speak without thinking first, said Paitlee Dorious. Oftentimes, people overlooked the impact of their words and the magnitude of it. Just like what it says in Latter-day Saint hymns #232, “Let us oft speak kind words to each other… [because] the kind words we give shall in memory live…”
Paitlee Dorious, Utah
Dorious, a freshman majoring in math education said speaking kindly is easier said than done. “I think it comes down to thinking before speaking, taking the split second to consider what is the purpose behind my words, if it’s kind or not,” she said. Dorious said kind words matter because God wants us to love our neighbors.
[Doing so] shows how much we love God when we treat others with respect and kindness.
Eben-ezer Gonzales, Philippines
Gonzales, a senior majoring in graphic design said speaking kind words invites people to be kind to others when talking or even when they are just thinking.
I think kind words matter because you don’t really know what other people are going through and even to yourself, so try to be kind.
Jethro Raman, Fiji
Raman, a junior majoring in accounting, said it’s always better to think of each other as human beings with feelings because words linger in people’s minds .
We’re all children of God,
Unkind words magnify the insecurities of other people.
“That is how [words can] cause mental health issues,” Raman continued.
Mikah Cabanilla, Philippines
Cabanilla, a junior majoring in accounting, said being kind means understanding where people come from and showing kindness towards them even with just a simple compliment.
Whether it’s your friend or not, you should not be thinking about judging them,
Kindness can be expressed in words and in deeds, she said. Even the tone of our voice is important to be aware of, she continued. “In a stressful environment, I always try to compose myself through my emotions because I don’t want to feel angry when my senses are not calmed,” Cabanilla shared.
Moehani Hamblin, Tahiti
Hamblin, a junior majoring in health and human science said being kind to our own selves first is what choosing kindness means to her.
Self-love is very important because we tend to get harsh on ourselves,
When we love ourselves, it is best to share it with others. “It impacts others as much as it impacts us,” Hamblin continued.
Lisa Yabakivou, Fiji
Yabakivou, a senior majoring in accounting said whatever a person says to others, it cannot be taken back. “And people will remember it,” she said. Yabakivou said people should speak kindly one to another because you never know what people are going through.
Speaking kind words would uplift people especially with what they’re going through in life,
Vignesh Nagarajan, India
Nagarajan, a senior majoring in information technology said if a person does not have any kind words to say, they should not say anything. Nagarajan said we are passing by people who are facing their own trial. “So our kind words could make their day,” Nagarajan said. He said he knows this to be true, especially from stories he hears from his friends. For example, he said one of his friends received kind words from a stranger six years ago—a memory that friend still holds close to her heart today. “She told me it really impacted her and she often remembers it when trials occur,” he said.
Ayu Ningtyas Kartika Sari, Indonesia
Sari, a sophomore majoring in computer science, said speaking kind words is equal to loving yourself. She said,
When I’m being kind to myself, I’m kind to others too, which makes me happy.
She said her kindness stems from her belief that not knowing what would happen in the future is enough reason to be good to others today. “For example, I’ll never know when I can meet a person again, so I will always try to be good to them now and be the best version of myself,” Sari explained.
Ethan Smith, Kauai
Smith, a sophomore majoring in biology said life is about perspective.
If we have a good attitude about life, we’d have more confidence in ourselves and have more hope for the future with positivity,
he said. Negative words break us apart and kind words build us up, he said. “They make us who we are as it reflects values and encourages people to be better,” he continued.
Wilford Wu, China
Wu, a senior majoring in accounting, said being kind to one another means having a sense of understanding to others and embracing differences. “We don’t assume that people come to us with a negative intention even if their words sound like it,” he said. Changing our assumptions into a good attitude toward others by being kind helps us to be a light to them. Wu said kind words will uplift and encourage people.
Kind words lead to positivity and arguing lead to miscommunication.