In a world increasingly filled with hate and unkindness, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. From disparaging rhetoric from our leaders to the alarming resurgence of anti-Semitism, our communities often reflect a harsh reality. While we may not have control over these external events, we do have the power to choose how we respond and how we treat those around us.

Words matter. Building an emotional vocabulary and articulating those emotions can have a profound effect on how we interpret, conceptualize, and understand ourselves and our world.

I recently learned a new word from my younger daughter’s boyfriend- or rather an acronym- YATS. It means Yelling At the TV Screen. He was using it in reference to watching football and how often people yell at the players, coaches, and referees. I have to admit that I am guilty of this. Not necessarily when watching sporting events, but certainly when I hear offensive comments made by political leaders. I even do this when I read the paper (much to my husband’s chagrin).