I write this not to gain likes or comments, but to encourage my friends to pause and reflect on life. It’s easy to judge and criticise, but words can do so much harm when not used with care. I’ve seen the damage that careless words can cause, and I feel the need to speak the truth.

 

Writing is a powerful tool. It should never be used to tear someone down, especially when their work is the result of days, months, or even years of dedication. Criticising someone’s hard work out of jealousy, or simply because it doesn’t meet your personal standards, is a misuse of the pen. Writing should be about fairness, about seeking truth, not about feeding our own insecurities.

 

Writers, journalists, and all those who have a voice in public spaces must be aware of their responsibility. Careless words can do lasting harm. We should use our platform to build, not destroy. Remember, we will all be gone one day. So why not leave behind a legacy of kindness and encouragement rather than bitterness?

 

Publicly criticising someone, especially in their early career, can cause them immense pain. The wounds created by such words can leave the person feeling humiliated, waiting for your downfall, with forgiveness seeming impossible. When you shame someone in public, it is as though you bury them alive. Your life may continue, but the pain you’ve caused will remain with them long after you’ve moved on. That is why writing must be done with care.

 

Take a moment to understand the hard work that goes into creation. Do not let your strength with the pen turn into cruelty. Instead, use your words to motivate, support, and uplift those who strive to make something new, even if it doesn’t meet your personal preferences. It is crucial to recognise that words have the power to either build or destroy. When we offer criticism, it should be delivered with thoughtfulness and care, with the intent of helping someone grow, not to break their spirit. Hurting others with harsh, thoughtless words only sows resentment, and the damage can be irreparable.

 

There is a deep and lasting pain that comes from public humiliation. The person who endures it may feel as though their dreams have been buried, even as they remain alive. Meanwhile, the one who caused the pain may carry on, never truly realising the extent of the hurt they left behind. That’s why it’s so important to use our pens-or any platform-with compassion. Words are not just marks on paper. They stay with people long after they’ve been written. When we write, we should do so with an awareness of the impact our words may have. A kind word can lift someone up, while a careless one can bring them down.

 

Let this be a reminder to us all: jealousy and unkind criticism have the power to stifle creativity and kill dreams. But when we use our words to guide, encourage, and uplift, we help others grow and thrive. In doing so, we create a more supportive and kinder world. Ultimately, we will all be gone one day.  But the way we treat others, and the words we leave behind, will continue to have an impact. Let’s choose to leave behind words of encouragement and kindness, so that even after we are gone, the good we’ve done will continue to live on.