it's only words.

why then do they hurt so much?

I've always been particular about word usage; it irritates me when people over/understate something and (more often than not) wind up misleading others. But what really upsets me is the perceived flippancy and lack of concern behind such word callousness (as my dad likes to say, the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference). As such I've been labelled sensitive or some might say, over-sensitive ;)

That established, it doesn't stop me from being very catty when I'm arguing too. Wish I could take back something I said today, but that's the thing with words: once they're out of your mouth they cease to be just thoughts that one can entertain in that dark stew of the mind, and they enter the ears and minds and souls of others to leave their marks.

The Bible too teaches that words have power. "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:20-21). A good reminder to watch what we say, and to strive to use words to build people up!