Words rarely disappear when the conversation ends. They can linger in a heart, shape a relationship, awaken curiosity, restore confidence, offer forgiveness, or become part of the story another person carries forward. After spending several days in the presence of my mother- and father-in-law, who have shared 65 years of marriage, I found myself reflecting on the words that build a life, a marriage, a family, a classroom, and a community.

In this episode of the Words Have Power series on Sharing the Good, I invite us to consider not simply the words we speak, but the legacy they may leave behind.

For educators–

What words will my students carry with them after they leave my classroom?

Did I tell them they were capable? Did I cultivate curiosity rather than fear of being wrong?

Did my words communicate…I see s ...