Category: Words

Rowan Sanan (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Music is a universal language. 

I’m sure many people have heard this saying before, and I’m inclined to agree. However, as a music student, poet and writer, I find that the connections between language and music are much deeper than just song lyrics or sheet music. Through ethnomusicology and sociolinguistics, we can see the importance of both language and music to each other and to greater ideas and cultures. Literature and poetry are also connected to music through rhythm, imagery, melody and phonetics, which connect languages with other musical qualities. 

Here I argue that music is a universal language, but language, whether we understand it or not, can be music too. 

The connections between language and music are clear in ethnomusicology and sociolinguistics. Sociolinguistics studies the connections between society and linguistics, and their influences on each other. Ethnomusicology studies music and cultures other than one’s own—immersing oneself into studying that music and how culture shapes it. 

Both act as identity markers. Language and music are crucial for expressing cultural identity. Regional dialects and folk music are examples of this—different cultures create their own ways of communicating with each other, whether for entertainment or survival. Switching between these languages and dialects between different contexts is similar to how a musician might merge or expand on genres and styles to reflect their identities, like through fusion music. Similarly, using songs with language as a tool is important for language preservation. Unsurprisingly, traditional songs from various cultures can preserve entire practices and stories, all passed down through generations. For example, the ancient Greeks passed down stories verbally using poems and songs. 

Social and political messages are an important connection between language and music. Protest songs and spoken word poetry have been used for a long time to address societal issues, and are often a way for marginalized communities to unite and inspire change. Blending musical styles and cultures promotes multiculturalism, breaking down the cultural barriers surrounding music and language. 

Speaking of poetry and song, poems can also have musical qualities. Not only do poetic metrical patterns create a rhythmic structure like a piece of music, but rhymes and alliterations help to add a musical quality to poetry, creating pleasing patterns and emotional impact. Literary devices like repetition can also create musical emphasis on themes that evoke certain emotions. This musicality in symbolism and imagery can enhance the experience of a piece of text. 

Language is a perfect way of evoking symbolism and imagery, and can create different atmospheres and emotions. This can even be achieved through musical references or the description of sounds, like the whistling of wind. Some poets and writers are also known for musicality in their work, where their prose and syntax create a melodious flow. 

Language and music also share similarities when you consider phonetics. This kind of discussion gets very technical, but it’s an important part of discovering and researching the connections between language and music.

Pitch in speech—intonation—can be compared to musical notes. If you’ve ever seen those videos of someone creating a jazzy piano accompaniment to a meme or a video, this is how that would be achieved. Even without the fun accompaniment, people can use intonation to create musical sounds in their voices—for example, mimicking an accent or impression. Along with that, timbre, which is at its simplest the quality of a sound, creates distinct attributes. Individual voices, accents and dialects all sound different and can easily convey various nuances. 

Calling back to that idea of rhythm from before, rhythm in speech is part of phonetics, too. The different timings of syllables and stresses within a word can be likened to musical meters. In Spanish, syllables in a word are essentially kept equal—whereas in English, different parts of certain words have more emphasis. Similarly, languages like Spanish or French are known for being spoken very quickly. These qualities give them—like different tempos in music—unique flow and comprehension. Languages also vary in intonation and prosody, which are the patterns of rhythm and sound. Rising and falling intonations can convey different intentions and emotions. Like musical phrases rising and falling, an ascending pattern might cause suspense, similar to how a rising intonation conveys a question.

The idea of emphasis also applies to music, as different meters emphasize different beats in a bar. For example, 4/4 emphasizes the first and third beats, the strongest and medium-strongest beats in the bar, unlike ¾, which only emphasizes the first beat. Of course, these points of emphasis can change—like clapping on beats two and four of a 4/4 bar in genres like rock or country.

So next time you read a piece of poetry, or hear someone speak a language you don’t understand, think of these things, these incredible connections between music and language, and how both exist more fully with the other. After all, music is a universal language, but language is music too.

—

Rowan is a university student who loves to write books and poetry, read all kinds of books and spend time with his family and pets.

Farhnaz Fazli (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Whether you’re a leader in your classroom or a major CEO, communication skills are ultimately what differentiate a bad leader from a great one. The two are closely connected. But why are communication skills so important to have as a leader? Well, one of the main responsibilities of a leader is to guide the pursuit of group ideas and the achievement of goals. These require two things from a leader: the ability to earn trust and the ability to encourage collaboration. Leaders can build trust and encourage teamwork through their communication skills. As a result, these skills are ultimately what determine whether or not leaders (and their groups) achieve the goals they set out. 

Whom we choose to follow the lead of is ultimately based on our impression of their degree of trustworthiness. A leader can gain a sense of trust through their communication skills. It might be commonly said that actions speak louder than words, but when you’re a leader, your words matter just as much. Word choice, tone and body language are all elements of communication that play a role in encouraging trust in a leader’s message, ideas and goals. It’s a big part of what makes someone want to follow a leader. If you consider the world of social activism, we often see crafty slogans or chants play a part in morale and loyalty. It is what keeps a movement alive. Oftentimes, slogans or chants come from memorable or inspiring quotes from a leader. Words that stick out in this way don’t usually happen by accident. Great leaders know how to communicate well in this manner and build trust over time with their communication skills. Nailing this skill is essentially the first step in becoming a leader or being selected as one. For this reason, I think it’s unlikely that someone without communication skills would ever be crowned a leader. It’s just that important of a skill to have.

In addition to building trust, it’s important for leaders to have communication skills in order to unify the group that they lead. A disconnected group of people cannot reasonably achieve anything, nor can a group that’s in the midst of conflict. Thus, it’s a leader’s responsibility to bring people together and encourage collaboration and the pursuit of goals. In a way, leaders use their communication skills to set the tone (or “mood”) and bring a sense of structure within their group. If leaders didn’t have communication skills, people would become confused, disconnected and aimless due to the lack of structure that is otherwise provided by a leader’s communication abilities. This would hinder goal achievement. Think of a coach and a sports team. If a coach cannot effectively communicate their frustrations and their coaching expertise, they can easily demotivate players and destabilize teamwork. This would be a recipe for loss and failure. A leader must have communication skills in order to encourage and maintain group cohesion as much as humanly possible. While disagreements are inevitable in groups, it’s a leader’s job to use their communication skills to keep people focused on effectively collaborating and pursuing their goals. This is why it’s so important for a leader to have these skills; otherwise disconnection and chaos would ensue. 

The presence of communication skills is the first step in becoming a leader and, in the long term, succeeding as one. It is what people judge in others to determine whether they will trust and follow someone’s lead in the first place. These skills are what help a leader earn their title. Communication skills also play an important role in completing leadership duties like pursuing group ideas and goal achievement. These tasks heavily rely on group cohesiveness and the collaboration of ideas. A leader must have communication skills to build this sense of togetherness and foster a respectful or collaborative environment. Without these skills, groups become disconnected and directionless. This disconnection and lack of structure can hinder the achievement of goals. Communication skills are essentially at the very core of what makes a person a leader.  

—

Leave your thoughts for Farhnaz in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Nathan Yan (he/him/his), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“You’re kind of bad.” That was harsh, I know. In my defence, it was a close badminton game and I was tired.

I’m sure plenty of us have been there before. Maybe it’s breaking bad news, having an argument, saying something while mentally preoccupied, or just having to say something hard, but everyone says the wrong things sometimes. 

I cannot stress how important it is to find the right words to express something. It’s personally helped me with teaching, relationships, managing conflicts and plenty more. Conversely, not finding the right words can cause misunderstandings and miscommunications, and it can hurt a lot of people. But it’s not unavoidable. Finding the right words is a difficult task, and there have even been books written on the subject, but something one can try to do is to consider the circumstances and try to maintain understandable clarity.

I’ve found that context and reading the room is one part of this process. It’s important to consider the person, the topic and the message, because all of these have an impact on communication. For example, if I’m reconciling with someone who blames me for a past event, I would have to keep in mind their beliefs about my actions. If they firmly believe I’ve wronged them, then I can’t just assume they’ll change their opinion immediately. I need to gradually guide the conversation in a way that tries to change their mind, and a part of this is using words that take responsibility. Not “It wasn’t my fault,” but “I should have tried to help.” Alternatively, if I’m trying to calm someone down during an argument, I could be responsible then as well to give a sense of cooperation. I wouldn’t say, “You’re being really aggressive, you need to calm down,” instead I would say something like, “I’m sorry, can we please talk about this.” 

There are plenty of other situations where finding the right words requires knowledge of the tone, desired sentiment and situation. If I’m trying to take command during a crisis, I would need to change my tone to be more resolute and confident so people feel more calm. During a serious discussion, I wouldn’t want to use a joking or informal tone, and I shouldn’t use disparaging words when I’m helping someone. When finding the right words, it’s important to just take that step back and keep in mind the goal and tone.

Another thing I’ve found important to consider is the simplicity of my words. Primarily while teaching, it’s important to consider the audience for what I’m going to say. For example, people who are new to a subject would be more comfortable with simpler language. Outside of teaching, using big words in arguments can end up with others being flustered, and using complex language during speeches can lose an audience. I think when it comes to simplicity, however, it isn’t all that clear cut, and I need to manage simplicity to an appropriate level. An example of this I’ve heard about is talking to someone about a serious issue they have, where you don’t just want to bluntly state the issue, because others could feel attacked. Going more in depth can help them realise their issues and reduce the animosity they might feel. However, going too far in depth would make me sound like I am just launching a barrage of complaints. Similarly, in my experience, using a drawn out speech with complex language just leads to more frustration.

Many other elements of context also have an impact on choosing the right words, but the overarching trend is that context needs to be considered. However, there are general things that many people can do to make their words seem or become right, with analogies and clarity being two of these things.

Whether it be during conflict management, teaching or leadership roles, analogies create human connections that can help you find the right words. Having those simplistic stories that are easy to understand builds the rest of the words you will need to say. They often contain the primary idea, and then from there it’s simple to find more examples of reasoning behind it. 

For example, if an analogy is used to equate not giving up on a growing tree, it is simple to reason through how the tree grows through rain and thunder, or equate it to how people have to have firm roots to be able to grow in adversity. Furthermore, the tree acts as a symbol that then makes the ideas presented around it more recognizable and simple, since they’ve been presented as similar to a commonplace object. Thus, the speech itself seems more correct and influential. 

Outside of analogies, focusing on clarity also helps with understanding. Making sure one’s line of logic and feelings are absolutely clear can make your words seem right and genuine. This helps with your message, whether you are trying to be persuasive, trying to calm people down or even teaching, as it makes understanding easier for students.

Communicating effectively is a challenge, and finding the right words to say is a big part of it. One misstep could make someone say something they’ll regret. But the good news is that through the forethought of considering context, analogies and clarity, finding the right words becomes a lot easier.

—

Hi my name is Nathan Yan, I am a student at David Thompson Secondary School. I enjoy activities like debate, computer science and chess, and my favourite subject is math.

Ugochi Guchy Kalu (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I never had any speech problems. In fact, I was a loud baby with a big personality. My parents often marveled at how early and how confidently I could express myself. However, as I grew older, the world around me began to cast shadows on my natural exuberance. People started sharing concerns, emphasizing societal views about etiquette and how a girl should behave. I was told to be more ladylike, to tone down my loudness and to be more reserved. These repeated messages made me self-conscious, and gradually, I began to withdraw. I started thinking that my quietness would be more acceptable and that it would bring me the approval I sought.

As time went on, I became adept at holding back. I avoided confrontation and shied away from expressing my true feelings. Whenever there was an argument, I would rather tear up than voice my thoughts. I didn’t want to be seen as aggressive or loud, so I suppressed my natural inclination to speak out. Instead, I turned to keeping journals. I wrote down my thoughts, my frustrations and the scores of wrongs done to me. This habit became both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it nurtured a passion for writing within me. On the other hand, it made me bitter and vindictive, as I harbored unspoken grievances and unresolved anger.

During my high school days, I would often forfeit my rights to express my opinion. I would rather turn to tears than share my side of the story. These constant tears began to make me into a villain, as people often argued that the guilty ones are the first to cry. My tears were interpreted as admittance. This not only frustrated me but made me powerless in the face of bullying and taunts.  On one such day, I was severely punished for something I had no idea about. All it took was a classmate to point their finger at me, and since I would rather cry than talk, I was made the scapegoat. This incident was very significant and one that began my journey to reclaim my voice. 

I decided to take back my power. I grew tired of being defined by societal rules and expectations. I refused to be silenced any longer. I owned who I was and embraced my eloquence as a unique blessing. I embarked on a journey to reclaim my verbal expression. I put away my journals and secret diaries. No more plotting and silently stewing over injustices. I committed to having direct conversations, no matter how difficult the topic was.

This newfound approach transformed me. I became fearless with my words. I began to speak my mind openly and assertively. My ability to communicate improved significantly, and I found myself becoming a public speaker and a great conversationalist. I felt freer and more emboldened, and most importantly, I felt authentic. This journey of verbal expression not only empowered me, but also enhanced my writing. I began to express in written form just as passionately and clearly as I did in speech.

Embracing my true self and defying societal expectations has been the most liberating experience of my life. I have learned that my voice is powerful and that using it authentically is a gift. This journey has taught me to balance my writing and speaking, enriching both forms of expression. Today, I stand proud of my loud, expressive self. I am grateful for the challenges that pushed me to discover the strength of my voice, both spoken and written.

—

My name is Ugochi Guchy Kalu. I went from a loud, expressive child silenced by societal norms to the person who reclaimed her voice and transformed into a fearless public speaker and writer. Embracing my authenticity, I now champion direct conversation and powerful self-expression.

Cristina Crescenzo (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

All of us will experience loss in our lives and, unfortunately, more than once. Yet it is something we refuse to discuss in everyday conversations. It’s almost as if we are scared that if we talk about loss, no matter what form it comes in, we are calling the universe’s bluff and, as a result, making our biggest fear occur. However, at the end of the day, we must realize that just because we don’t talk about it doesn’t mean it will never happen; it is inevitable.

I think that’s why love can hurt so much, because in the back of our minds, we continuously contemplate the possibility of losing who we care about, whether this person is leaving our lives or the very Earth itself. Humans are meant to grieve, since we are life forces that live much longer than most organisms. I suppose it would be nice to be immortal and spend eternity with everyone we have ever known, but if that were the case, we would just take it for granted. I even do this now, knowing full well that I will not live forever. We can’t forget to cherish our existence and the people going along for the ride with us, because we will eventually lose all those things. 

I want to take this moment to get a little bit more specific; I am not going to be morbid and talk about the more finite type of loss, like the death of a loved one. Instead, I want to discuss the loss of a friend, or what the younger generation likes to call friendship breakups. I have been talking to many people lately about friendships and their various fallouts, and one thought has been unanimous among all of them: it’s entirely possible that the loss of friendship can hurt even more than separating from a partner. As someone who has lost many friends, I am inclined to agree, but I have also never had a boyfriend, so I can’t say for certain. I am not only a textbook people-pleaser, but I also have a debilitating fear of being alone, thus making me the perfect person to take advantage of. Because of these two weaknesses, I have kept becoming friends with people who treat me poorly for years, and it has turned me into a person I wouldn’t want to be friends with. I have learned very late in the game that, like life, friendships also run their course, and certain people are only meant to be around you for a season. 

It does not say anything about your character if a hundred friends do not surround you at any given time. It is okay to only have one or two quality people that you text occasionally and see in person a few times a year. It’s rare to always have free time to spend with friends; that’s the kind of thing for TV shows like Friends. As much as I would love to have a core group of six people that I could meet for a coffee and talk about life with every day, that is just not realistic. Once I stop watching TV and snap myself back to the real world, I realize that all I really want is to have friends who let me be by myself; I don’t want to be compelled to like or do everything they enjoy just because I am scared they won’t like me. For instance, clubbing may not be my scene, but I always have a good time with some of my close friends at a bar. Nevertheless, we should make an effort once in a while to do activities with our friends that they enjoy, even if we don’t. The most crucial part is that we listen to and respect each other and not try to change the other person to fit our mold, because friends don’t have to have everything in common to be good to each other and have fun together. 

It’s important for me, as well as others, to remember that some people can become incompatible or just outgrow each other in time, and that’s fine, too. As humans, we are bound to make mistakes and lose someone that way, even if we didn’t mean to hurt them. You could feel so guilty that you can become sick from the anxiety, but all you can really do in those situations is apologize, and if they don’t forgive you, at least you can feel at peace knowing you did what you could to unburden your conscience.

On the other hand, you could have been so betrayed that you are depressed and can’t get out of bed, and if that’s the case, all you can do is come to terms with the fact that they aren’t the kind of person you want to be in your life if they could treat you that way.

In short, losing friends happens, and it is something I am still learning to cope with as I type this sentence. Still, if we were to talk about it more, we would normalize mourning the breakup of friendships the same way we do for romantic ones. We could let go of the past and open ourselves up to meet more amazing people.

—

My name is Cristina Crescenzo and I love to write. Low Entropy is a great organization that lets me do that with topics I am interested in while I am still trying to figure things out. Above all, I just hope that my writing connects with someone and that I continue spreading positivity and awareness of mental health and the disabled community.

Cassandra Di Lalla (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I hope and pray that this will be one of the easiest (if not the easiest) topics to write about. I say this because when I’m communicating in written form, versus actually speaking and holding a conversation, I am totally and completely in my element. It’s my comfort zone.

When I’m expressing myself in writing, I find that I feel more relaxed and at ease. I’m not having to come up with something to say instantaneously, nor do I have to worry about how to respond to someone.

A wave of anxiety washes over me when I have to speak out loud or hold a conversation with someone, and that’s mainly because I get nervous and uncomfortable. Sometimes when I’m feeling that way, I tend to ramble on and spew absolute nonsense, since my nerves get the best of me. Or, things just end up completely awkward to the point where I dread ever having to go through it again. Hence why I’d prefer to keep to myself unless I’m around people I’m already comfortable with, or people who know what to expect from me as a socially awkward and anxiety-ridden human being.

Another reason I find it a lot easier to express myself in writing is the simple fact that I can actually take the time to think about how I’m feeling and why I’m feeling that way. No stress, no pressure—just my thoughts and I. I feel a lot more comfortable writing everything out, rather than mouthing off a bunch of jargon that sounded better in my head than when I actually let those words roll off my tongue. 

When you’re holding a conversation with someone, whether they be your friend, a parent or sibling, a colleague, etc . . . it’s always live. It’s not pre-recorded, where you can listen to what the conversation will entail so that you know how to respond.

You can’t rewind and pretend that you weren’t just speaking out loud. It isn’t like erasing the words on paper and rewriting them. You can fast-forward by changing the topic, but those words were still said, and they were still part of that conversation.

You can pause the conversation by excusing yourself, but chances are that you’ll pick up from where you left off once the distraction is no longer a disturbance. I suppose you could pause the conversation and not pick up from where you left off because both you and the other person want a way out of the conversation anyway.

Imagine speaking to someone and then flat out telling them you’re not interested in the conversation and physically removing yourself? It sounds hilarious (just picture it being said with a straight face), but in reality, it would come off as quite rude. However, on paper? You can do and say whatever you want and rewrite it a zillion times if you so please.

The same thing goes for composing an email or texting someone versus speaking to them on the phone. Do any of you get jittery and weird when you have to make a call or actually hold a real conversation with someone? Well, I do. Honestly. There’s no shame or judgement here. I don’t know what it is, but I’d much rather send you a beautifully crafted email than have to talk on the phone. I’d also rather send a text than have to talk on the phone. Oh, and you’ll love this one . . . I love writing letters! Handwritten letters, not typed letters—100% handwritten. Why? Because it’s much more personal. But it’s also exciting (and refreshing) to receive something in the mail other than bills.

This is also very interesting because many people have told me that they prefer speaking on the phone instead of writing an email or sending a text, but part of me thinks it’s because you typically get a much quicker response from that form of communication. It’s considered a “live channel,” whereas email or text are just “sitting in limbo.” Right? You can easily leave your emails and texts unread but if you’re having a conversation with someone in “real time,” you sort of have to respond in order to keep the conversation going. It’s just a better flow that way, otherwise it’s odd and uncomfortable if someone is talking to you and you just let their greeting sink in and marinate for an hour. People will start to wonder why you do things like that and whether or not you actually want to be present in that moment. 

I feel like we’re all a little misunderstood, whether our thoughts are on paper or spoken through our teeth. So, here’s to hoping that we will eventually all have mutual understandings, and enjoy the ups and downs or even the bizarre and interesting conversations being held around us. 

—

Cassandra Di Lalla lives life purposefully. She enjoys reading, writing and mental health initiatives. She’s an animal lover for life and an innovative individual always finding new ways to create.

Azra Adil Rizvi, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

In the digital age, where words are our currency and communication is king, the humble typo can strike terror into the hearts of even the most seasoned writers. Those tiny, seemingly insignificant errors can loom large, casting a shadow of doubt over our credibility and professionalism. But do spelling mistakes really undermine our credibility as much as we fear? Let’s delve into this linguistic labyrinth and explore the impact of typos.

As a writer, I’ll confess that typos are my Achilles’ heel. I’ve always been a terrible speller. Spellcheck is my best friend, and Grammarly is a close second. But even with these digital guardians watching over my words, the occasional typo still manages to slip through the cracks. And when it does, I cringe. I imagine my readers shaking their heads in disappointment, their trust in my expertise waning with each misspelled word.

I remember once writing a heartfelt email to a mentor, expressing my gratitude for their guidance and support. I poured my heart and soul into those words, carefully crafting each sentence to convey my sincere appreciation. But in my haste to hit send, I overlooked a glaring typo in the very first line. Instead of writing “Dear Ms Williams,” I had written “Dear Ms William’s.” The misplaced apostrophe transformed a simple salutation into a possessive pronoun, making it seem as if I were addressing my mentor’s belongings rather than the mentor themselves.

The moment I realized my mistake, I was mortified. I frantically tried to recall the email, but it was too late. It had already been sent. I could only imagine my mentor’s reaction, their eyebrows furrowing in confusion as they deciphered my garbled greeting. I felt like a fool, my credibility shattered by a single misplaced apostrophe.

But is this fear justified? Do typos really have such a detrimental effect on our credibility? Research suggests that the answer is not as straightforward as we might think. While typos can certainly be distracting and create a negative first impression, their impact on credibility depends on various factors, including the context, the audience and the nature of the error itself.

In informal settings, such as personal emails or social media posts, typos are generally more tolerated. We tend to be more forgiving of minor errors when communicating with friends and family. However, in professional contexts, such as business reports or academic papers, typos can be more damaging. They can signal a lack of attention to detail, carelessness or even incompetence.

The audience also plays a role in how typos are perceived. Some readers may be more forgiving, while some may be particularly sensitive to spelling errors. For example, readers who are themselves meticulous spellers may be more critical of typos than those who are more relaxed about language.

The nature of the error itself can also influence its impact on credibility. A minor typo, such as a misspelled word or a misplaced comma, is less likely to undermine credibility than a major error, such as a grammatical blunder or a factual inaccuracy. Additionally, repeated typos throughout a piece of writing can be more damaging than a single isolated error.

So, what can we do to mitigate the terror of typos? First and foremost, proofread, proofread, proofread! Take the time to carefully review your writing before hitting that send button or publish button. If possible, have someone else proofread your work as well. A fresh pair of eyes can often catch errors that we might have missed.

Secondly, don’t beat yourself up too much if you do make a typo. We’re all human, and mistakes happen. Apologize, if necessary, correct the error and move on. Remember, it’s not the end of the world.

In the wise words of the Peanuts gang, “I’ve never made a mistake. I thought I did once, but I was wrong.” While we may not be able to achieve Lucy’s level of infallibility, we can strive to be mindful of our words and take steps to minimize errors. And when typos do occur, as they inevitably will, we can approach them with a sense of humor and humility. After all, even the most credible among us are not immune to the occasional linguistic stumble.

This is very subjective, dependent on the judgment of the person reading and judging you by your typos. If you had asked me a few years back, I would have agreed that typos mattered and could influence my perception of someone’s credibility. However, my perspective has evolved. I’ve come to realize that judging someone based on spelling errors or communication skills is superficial. In the grand scheme of things, these things don’t truly matter. Words, skills, behavior—they’re all subjective.

But it’s important to acknowledge that in the world around us, people often do judge others based on these superficial matters. So, while I personally don’t place much importance on typos, it’s wise to be mindful of them, especially in professional settings, as they can unfortunately influence how others perceive you.

—

Leave your thoughts for Azra in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

Lauren Long (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Why are we so quick to believe lies? Better yet, why do some people choose dishonesty over honesty?

No matter what stage of life we’re in, gossip spreads like wildfire, so by the time someone tells the truth, there’s a lot of confusion between truth and falsehood. 

Sadly, this is common in school hallways and in the real world. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are no strangers to this treatment. The media took great pleasure in printing negative, nasty articles about them, which played a large role in their decision to step down as senior working royals.

I don’t read tabloids or clickbait, so when I watched Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary last summer, I was shocked.

I had no idea how bad it was for them, and they made that documentary to tell their story after having it suppressed. It was a chance to share their narrative in their own words. That one watch inspired a series of articles that I have been sharing on my blog, and I chose to for two reasons. One, you have to actively look for positive pieces about Harry and Meghan, and two, a lot of what they shared resonated with me. I highly recommend watching their documentary, without prejudice. 

At one point, Harry states, “Misinformation is a global humanitarian crisis,” and I wholeheartedly agree.

My family and I experienced being the targets of misinformation not long ago. I’ve been on the receiving end of rumours and misunderstanding before, but this was on a whole new level. I can’t tell you how hurtful it is to be experiencing grief over the death of a family member, waiting for news on another, and discovering that people have been spreading rumours and misinformation about the situation.

I wanted to do something, and asked my parents if it would help if I did a Facebook post respectfully saying “Back off,” because of the additional hurt and angst these people were causing. 

My mom said she understood where I was coming from, but writing and sharing a post online wouldn’t make things better. One of my friends, who was experiencing the same thing we were, agreed. She recognized my desire to act came from a place of love, but she rightly pointed out that posting something could result in having my words twisted around and painting me as the villain. It’s messed up that this is how the world works, but the only way to get through it is our knowledge that we know the truth, and that the gossip mongers are in the wrong. 

I perceive the danger of lies and gossip differently than I did a few months ago.  Not just the damage they can cause to a person’s reputation, but also the tolls they take on emotional and mental health. I said earlier that I don’t pay attention to the tabloids, but I’m aware of them. They constantly surround us, whether we’re in line at the store or online. 

The first thing I feel when I see them is disgust. Disgust that people are okay with exploiting the lives of others for money, and sympathy for those on the receiving end of this abuse. 

I may not live in the public eye, but I can say that when bad things happen, everyone who participates in spreading rumours and fanning the flames are no better than those who make their living doing this. 

So, if everything I just mentioned causes this much pain, why are people so quick to believe lies over the truth? Pamela Anderson said in her documentary Pamela: A Love Story, “It’s nervy to say the truth,” and my two cents is honestly that it makes people uncomfortable. People who believe lies don’t know how to react to the truth when it’s revealed, so instead of taking responsibility, they decide to continue believing the lies. Rather than admit they were wrong, they play the victim. 

If this isn’t frustrating enough, when someone we know chooses to believe the lies and repeats what they’ve heard, it’s tactless and fractures our relationship with them. 

No matter what walk of life we come from, lies and misinformation can be damaging on many levels. Harry says, “When a lie spreads on social media, it’s dangerous. Of course it is. But when that same lie is given credibility by journalists or publishers, it’s unethical, and as far as I’m concerned, an abuse of power.” 

We’re always going to cross paths with people who think that lies are more interesting than the truth and don’t care about the fallout. But we’re also going to meet those who value truth. 

I would rather take some heat for being honest than lose my morals and integrity in the toxic game of “What salacious story can I publish about someone that will make me a fortune?” 

We all have a choice. We can believe and speak lies, or we can speak the truth. What’s yours? 

—

Born and raised in Quesnel, BC, Lauren Long is a strong advocate for mental health and well-being, as well as being a major Swiftie and a role model for positive body image. She believes in the value of truth, and that truth matters. When she’s not writing, you can find her on the pole, on the training mats or curled up with a good book.

Treasure Oludaisi, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer 

As children we are often taught that words hold power. What we say to someone can impact them deeply, often in ways our adolescent minds could not comprehend. Especially during our formative years when our minds start becoming hyper-critical of everything we do and we start to seek validation from our peers, teachers, family and strangers, such critiques can be offset by words of affirmation. 

Words of affirmation can be described as words that communicate one’s love, affection and respect for another person. This can be as simple as “Thank you” and as complex as “I love you.” Nonetheless, it is human nature to desire receiving such words from people that mean the most to you. In the age of social media, however, people are shifting those desires to those they do not know as well. It is easy to see the number of times people have liked your picture, comment or tweet, and see the positive feedback and take those as sort of an expectation, especially with how frequently it can happen. You can be on every social media site and post multiple things a day and receive positive feedback constantly. Such an environment has caused a great shift in what we as a societal collective perceive as affirmation. For example, in relationships, your partner likes someone else’s social media post and it is received as if the words “I like you” were spoken to the other person. 

This shift toward accessibility has created an overconsumption of words of affirmation, and in many people has caused a dependency on them. Similarly, in an academic and social sense, when you are used to receiving constant positive affirmations, you tend to base your success and importance on them. For example, if your whole life you were constantly told how beautiful or magnificent you are, and you find yourself in spaces where you are not being affirmed in those ways, you will inherently believe you are no longer beautiful and magnificent.

Allowing your self-worth and validation to come from external sources is never a recipe for a good thing. Yet, we find ourselves doing this every day by choice; engaging in social media consistently allows for opportunities to fester and create dependency. Does that mean words of affirmation are bad? Absolutely not, but like everything we do in this life, everything must be done in moderation. Although difficult, it is imperative that this ideology is embedded in children from early on. As someone who heavily relied on words of affirmation as a child, it is incredibly easy for this reliance to follow you through to adulthood and present in unhealthy relationships and attachments. Children and adults alike, need the emotional tools to affirm themselves and take external affirmations and validations like a garnish to a meal; they should only add to what they already know of themselves, and not be detrimental to it. 

Similar to social media, workplace environments facilitate the same type of response. Such environments often feature consistent criticism that is sometimes made out to be constructive, when they can actually be damaging when received on a constant basis. With that, the receipt of affirming words may be limited and therefore have an impact on the employee’s perception of their employer’s evaluation of their work. Such a dynamic is difficult to thrive in, and may lead to similarly unhealthy non-work relationships. 

With co-dependency traps essentially set everywhere in our human lives, it’s difficult to suggest ways in which we can avoid such a fate. The simplest and most clichéd solution is to love yourself truly, wholeheartedly and honestly, without confirmation from anyone other than you that you are everything positive you deem yourself to be. This is a lot easier said than done and requires a lengthy amount of internal and external work, but is that not the goal? To one day be able to say with certainty that you love who you are, who you were and who you are becoming? 

In a world where external validation is easily accessible and often overemphasized, it is essential to find a balance. Words of affirmation are powerful, but they should enhance, not define, our self-worth. By cultivating self-love and teaching the value of internal validation from an early age, we can build healthier relationships and stronger senses of self. Embracing who we are, independent of others’ opinions, is the key to lasting happiness and fulfillment. 

—

Treasure Oludaisi is a final-year law student who spends her free time reading, writing and enjoying the simplicities of her day-to-day life.

Diny Davis (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world” – Robin Williams

Introduction

Have you ever stopped to think about the power of words? They are not just used as tools of communication, but are also bridges to connect thoughts, ideas and feelings. As a writer, I’ve found myself on an unexpected journey, exploring the never-ending world through the power of words. In this post, I’d love to share where my words have been taking me and maybe even spark a curiosity in you to see where your own words might lead.

The Power of Storytelling

Words have transformative power. They can turn simple facts into vivid stories, transport readers to different worlds and evoke emotions ranging from deep joy to extreme sadness. For me, storytelling has become a pathway to understanding life more deeply. Each piece of writing I create has taught me lessons about humanity, understanding and hope.

Personal Story

I remember the first article I shared publicly. It was about self-help strategies for better mental health. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, not just for the storytelling, but for how relatable and heartfelt the narrative was. Many of my loved ones messaged me saying that it was helpful to know the easy steps that one can follow to take care of one’s mental health. This experience showed me that words can touch hearts and sometimes even motivate them.

Lessons Learned

Through writing articles, I’ve learned the importance of perspective. Telling a story from multiple viewpoints, for example, has taught me that every story has more than one side, just like in real life. This practice has improved not only my writing, but also my viewpoints and understanding of others.

Connecting with Others

Writing can often be a lonely activity, but it also opens incredible connections with people around the globe. Whether it’s through comments on a blog post, exchanges in a writers’ forum or comments from readers, each interaction is evidence of the connective power of words.

Building Communities

I’ve also seen communities blossom from shared interests in specific topics or themes. For instance, after writing a series of posts about health, I found many readers forming a sort of virtual support group, sharing their experiences and supporting each other on social media.

Expanding Perspectives

Engaging with diverse audiences has expanded my understanding of the world. When I read other writers’ blogs, it helps me to understand their cultures and perspectives, which I might never have otherwise thought about. Feedback from different cultural backgrounds makes me more aware of the global impact of my words, encouraging me to write with a more inclusive mindset.

Self-Discovery Through Expression

One of the most beautiful aspects of writing is how it serves as a mirror. Through exploring different genres and subjects, I’ve discovered parts of myself I never knew existed. Writing has been my therapy, my meditation and my journey of self-discovery.

Exploring New Genres

Initially I was hesitant to explore beyond familiar topics or even to share my experiences. But I later realised that each genre offers unique challenges and joys that have enriched my understanding of my own capabilities and interests. After all, coming out of your own comfort zone is what it takes to explore a whole new world.

Emotional Release

Often, I’ve found that writing is a vital way to release emotions that I can’t express out loud. Writing about a difficult time or a joyful moment allows me to process my feelings more deeply and find peace within them. Any sort of writing, for that matter, helps you to know yourself better. It gives clarity to foggy thoughts while bringing a bright ray of hope, wisdom and opportunity. 

Conclusion

So, where is my writing taking me? It’s leading me to new friendships, deeper self-awareness and an ever-expanding horizon of possibilities. Each word I write paves the way, not just for stories to tell, but for a life more richly lived. If you’ve ever felt the urge to write, I encourage you to follow it. Who knows where your words will take you?

—

Diny Davis is an aspiring author who is passionate about fitness and a strong believer in the close connection between physical and mental health. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate, a loving wife and a caring mother who maintains a balance in her work and personal life while giving emphasis to self-care.

Fátima Lima (She/Her), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

This is a deeply touching subject. When I encountered this writing theme proposed by Low Entropy, it felt like my mind was exploding with possibilities. Writing allows me to go wherever I want, both figuratively and perhaps literally, and that freedom is its most beautiful aspect. Since 2015, I’ve been blogging, initially without a clear purpose, but it soon became a welcomed break from my daily grind. Back then, I wasn’t fully aware of my abilities. It’s easy to get trapped in routine, isn’t it?

In 2019, when COVID struck and despite all the worries it brought, I found myself with something I’d never had before in my busy life: free time! My little cloud of free time, and that was my liberation moment, artistically speaking. From then on, I realized I could write for my mental well-being, and I haven’t been able to stop since. 

Reflecting on this theme, I can’t help but think about the experiences that have shaped my ability to write freely. Although I don’t have formal credentials as an academic, literary expert, or professional writer, I express myself to the best of my ability. Despite lacking formal qualifications, my imagination knows no bounds. In fact, my imagination excites me more than real life sometimes. Most of my pieces are fiction, written in the first person, and that’s where I love to be. Every moment I spend at my computer writing feels like a session with my therapist. It goes even further—whenever I have a hint or an idea, any paper note will work as a starter. I recall writing the beginning of a short story on a popcorn bag as I left a movie theatre.

The COVID-19 lockdown free time also introduced me to a new passion: South Korean dramaturgy! While watching romantic comedies and “cute” entertainment isn’t a substitute for professional therapy, please don’t misunderstand me, I simply found it immensely helpful as a temporary escape from real-life problems. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, promoting general well-being and temporarily relieving pain. It turns out my streaming service therapy sessions benefit my mental health and have inspired my imagination. They were also the motivation for my initial idea of starting writing film scripts.

Nowadays, I work at a settlement agency in New Brunswick, helping refugees and newcomers settle in this beautiful land called Canada. Recently, we had a chat at work about what brings us joy and what kind of work we would choose to fulfill our lives, other than what we are doing now. For me, there’s no doubt about it—I want to write! Whether it’s journalism, writing books, or crafting screenplays, I have a penchant for scriptwriting. I am confident that my mission on Earth revolves around words.

That conversation also motivated me to write a book about the refugee crisis, highlighting the challenging and courageous journeys these individuals embark on before finding safety here. The exposure to so many meaningful stories led me to the decision that more people needed to hear them. That’s the writing I’m working on at the moment. It’s a bit out of my comfort zone, as I envision it more like a documentary, but I’ve embraced the challenge.

I’d like to wrap up this piece with some words of encouragement because, for me, writing is like leaving traces of love. I want to emphasize that anyone can achieve whatever they set their minds to, and pursuing our passions can be a powerful tool for personal growth and healing. Imagine ideas swirling around in your mind like threads—don’t hesitate to embrace them wholeheartedly. For aspiring authors like me, I highly recommend the book “Novelist as a Vocation” by one of my favorite authors, Haruki Murakami. This remarkable book has been instrumental in liberating my mind and boosting my confidence, driving me to explore new horizons and uncover the full potential of where my writing could take me.

 

–

My name is Fátima Lima, and writing is my therapy. I believe art makes us better people, providing many ways to reflect on today’s world, the past and the future. I live in Moncton, New Brunswick, and my day-to-day job is in a multicultural settlement agency. The best thing about collaborating with Low Entropy is the freedom to write subjects I love, in the way I can write.

Sandeepan Roy, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“Is that a teardrop? Wow, didn’t expect that, or maybe that’s quite natural.”

To see those little kids playing with each other, a game that made no sense whatsoever, and laughing hysterically—which in my opinion could easily be the sweetest sound made since the universe was created—my heart smiled, elated. But then, to realize that you can’t touch them, caress them or even be with them because these are all just images transmitted over the internet, when in reality they are thousands of miles away in another country, across all seas and oceans. It probably makes me the weirdest person alive, who can see such things and not say about how I feel about them. Oh, what I would do to have my own voice and not rely on others to speak for me.

And there she is, their mama. Their sweet and beautiful mama. And yet again I can only look at her like a stoic and say nothing, as always. It takes me back a few years, when she was not yet a mother, but was at the same place as now, halfway across the Earth, where even a direct flight would take half the time taken for the Earth to rotate once. I could see her smiling and crying at the same time and I could only search for words to say how much I missed her. Someone else read my thoughts though, and I was eventually able to put the words in writing to her, and I’m so glad about that. Yeah, that I’m good at, anything non-verbal. Texts, chats, emails—those are my thing, and with the technological boom, I’ve got a few more in my arsenal, like videos, GIFs, memes, snaps and tweets, and the list keeps growing.

I did hear somewhere that when God takes away one of your senses, he makes sure to add a super punch to some of your other ones, or maybe I might’ve read that somewhere. I can sense the mood of someone and change myself accordingly. I’m extremely good at knowing what my loved ones want, though sometimes I feel that I’m not good enough to give them that. I truly believe that true love and care don’t need words to be spelt out, as I could be with my precious trio without a single word being uttered, with my inability to speak and them being happy to just be with me, to talk and smile to me for endless hours, and that is all that matters to me. 

Years have gone by since my relationships began with these three angels in my life, but I remember every moment so vividly, right from dating, marriage, trips and the birth of the first princess, to her many milestones. Continuing on to the second princess being born, everything seemed to have happened in a flash, yet it was all so definitively slow in the moment, like time lapsing during a celestial event. Sometimes, I envy my mind, as I can never seem to forget—not that I want to—I can quite literally teleport myself into the moment just by remembering it and my family loves me for it, even though sometimes it feels like they love this super-memory power more than what I am. But I’m okay with that, not out of my stoicism, but because that’s a good enough life for me, the feeling of being needed for something and the feeling of being loved for something, where both somethings are a part of me.

I seem to miss using words verbally , even though I’ve never really used them. It seems so cool to actually be able to say what you feel, to be able to hear the person and respond normally, to be in an actual conversation instead of relying on keyboards or someone else to say for you. I see the wifey say “I love you” to the kids and them melting like butter, and it guts me to think I’ll never be able to have that impact on them. 

But then I’ve seen the other side as well. I’ve seen the most beautiful of times and the absolute worst of times, and I can’t imagine the excruciating pain one has to go through to put either of these into mere words, as words fall exceedingly short in existence compared to their moments, that can be felt, breathed, suffered and maybe just lived through. I’ve been on top of a snowclad mountain after days of putting in endless walking and surviving against the extreme cold, but once there I could capture the moment without a single word coming to mind to describe it. I’ve seen my partner in long hours of labor twice already and I’m deeply glad that I couldn’t use words to even try comforting her. Instead I just used my existence, unsure how helpful that was anyway. And exactly how I see the moment now, those two little sweet peas jumping on bed, throwing the pillows, and laughing like it’s the most comical thing ever, with their mother chiming in too, to even try to put that moment into words would be absolutely unworthy of the effort. So, I, being myself, just let the time run its course and concentrate on capturing the magic of the moment. 

“Your battery is low!” says the disturbance to the call, and I feel my energy running out quickly.  As much as I would like this to go on forever, I have to stop. The byes and the goodnights are said, kisses exchanged, and once the call is ended, he lays me down on the desk and plugs in the white charger into me. The instant rush of energy is so overwhelming  that I gleam brightly. This will take a while, so I can take a power nap. With that, my screen fades away and everything around me falls silent. 

—

I’m just another human on this planet with abnormal visualizations in my head and I try my best to use language to hold it together. Hopefully, it transforms into something loveable.