The Hebrew word דבר (davar) demonstrates an interesting aspect of Hebrew thought. This Hebrew word is also frequently translated as "thing." [...] In the Hebrew mind, "words" are "things"; they have just as much substance as any other "thing." (source)
Last weekend, Father Claudio of the Eremo di Cerbaiolo in Tuscany taught me that words are things. They have substance. That means that when your word is out, you can't take it back. You can explain, justify, deny, apologize for or even ignore it, but you can't take it back. The word is out there and lives as a thing of its own. That word may travel, touch, inspire, build, connect, separate, hurt, create, destroy, grow, shrink, and gain old and new meanings. It may disappear to the bottom of the pond or create a ripple effect that goes as far as you can see.
That is why we must learn to take responsibility for our words.
Think them, feel them, own them before you let them out.
And also after.
Take responsibility for the words you use. Whatever impact your words create, own it. Even if it is not what you intended, desired or imagined that impact to be.
What would the world be like if we all learned to take responsibility for our words?