The word “but” is a powerful little word!
Do you know what the word “but” means?
I took AP English in high school. My English teacher, Mrs. Green, taught that this little word should be used very sparingly in our writing. In fact, if we used it more than three times in anything we wrote, we automatically got the grade of “F”. She taught us that it is only three little letters and is very powerful.
Why is this little word so powerful? It is powerful because it means that the only possibility is what follows it, not what was just stated before. It means, “Wait, there is more!”
Here are some examples of the power of this tiny word.
“I have had a hard life, but I still strive to be happy.”
Everyone has had a hard life, and everyone can still be happy in spite of the challenges in their past.
Many many many personal experiences have taught me the truth in this statement. Until I was in my mid-forties, my life was a series of extreme hardships. But I always tried to be happy in spite of them.
“My life has been full of mistakes, but I will still succeed.”
We all make mistakes, and if we learn from them instead of dwelling on them, we can be successful.
Life has taught me the validity of this statement also. I made the mistake of marrying my first husband, who turned out to be very abusive. I will struggle with the Traumatic Brain Injury he gave me for the rest of my life, but I will still succeed. I will succeed because I will persist at whatever I need to accomplish in my life.
I do not dwell on the fact that I married someone I should not have married. Instead, I look for ways I can succeed in spite of my traumatic brain injury.
“I have many problems, but I will still have a good day.”
Every day we all have to deal with problems. And we can have a good day in spite of our problems!
When I wake up, I am keenly aware that I have physical problems. And I am also aware that I can have a good day anyway.
Even before I open my eyes each morning, I think about three things I can do today to help someone else, three ways I can make someone else’s day better. When I open my eyes, I think about how I will implement my plan.
Just knowing I will help someone else each day gives me something to look forward to. It clears my mind of my own problems so I can think positively about my own life.
***
Mrs. Green would give me an “F” for this writing, but I had to write it anyway. I had to let you know the power of the little word “but”.
Focus on what you say after the little word “but”, not before it!
Let the encouraging words in these near a river posts help you
soar like an eagle above life’s storms.
Social media is great, but…read this!
We all fail sometimes, but…read this post!
Everyone struggles sometimes, but…click here…
You like to play the game tug of war, but…click here…
