It lives on once it has left our mouths. It is so easy to be misunderstood. Think of all the times when a simple mistake resulted in hurt. For example, I can be very sarcastic-I often add a sarcastic remark to a conversation without the slightest thought. Many times I have inadvertently hurt or alienated others.
Inflection is only the beginning of how painful our words can be.
Fighting against the urges of l'shon hara , slander or gossip, is an uphill battle. We know the pain that can be caused by gossiping, and yet it is often difficult to stop. As our words are medicine, we must prevent them from becoming poisonous to ourselves and others. Our words have power-this we know. We know, too, that sometimes little phrases, compliments, and insights offer hope, inspiration, or perhaps just a simple smile.