The Fewer the Words, the Greater the Impact.

"You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

-C. S. Lewis

 C. S. Lewis. He is one of my favorite authors whose words seem to be ageless. His works were published a hundred or so years ago, and yet they still apply for today.  I was considering this morning how many of his finest works are analytical essays, but few in words and mighty in meaning.  I also remembered another relatively short document turned 150 years old: The Gettysburg Address, written by another person who influenced the lives of millions with his words. Lincoln was wrong that the world would take little note of his words, wasn't he?  273 words, written without consideration that they would be a legacy, but yet they have become one.  The power of the written word should never be diminished, and the spoken one never taken carelessly.

They may become our legacy one day.

Every day, via social media and online browsing, I read words that both blow my mind and make me flinch for the human who wrote them.  Not only do I see people using this wonderful freedom to express thoughts that may never have been heard beautifully, but also some who splash the most inane and inappropriate thoughts in a media that is much stronger and enduring than stone.  Stone and paper are not searchable and kept on a database.  Think of it folks.  In 200 years, my Great, Great Great Grandchildren might be reading these very words electronically.  What will they know of my from my tweets, my posts, and my responses?

Sobering isn't it?

Perhaps we should all take a moment to consider how we spray our thoughts in this rapid-fire electronic age.

I am inspired by the many great words of humans past to leave a small crop of words creating a mark that will, in turn, inspire someone else.  They will not tell all of my stories, as the Gettysburg address doesn't reveal the story of the Civil War's fight for freedom, but may they reflect some real part of who I tried to be.

"You don't have a soul; you are a soul. You have a body." - C. S. Lewis

Take care of both today, and their legacy.

Cheers.