One of the most hurtful words we can ever truly mean is ‘annoying’. There’s a difference when your friend giggles at something funny you did and then you call them annoying for noticing. And then there’s telling someone why they annoy you and what you find annoying about them.
Telling someone that they’re annoying is letting them know that their personality and/or character is overbearing or that it’s too much for you to handle. We never know what words can do to someone. Let’s say someone has dealt with self harm issues or mental health problems their whole life and they’ve fought hard to get to a better head space and someone calls them annoying. Imagine how damaging that word could be to their recovery.
It allows them to question themselves and what they do. They question why they say what they say or why they laugh the way they laugh. They question why aren’t they good enough. They question why they are still in someone’s life who they “annoy”. It’s a hard pill for them to swallow.
They constantly feel that their being is always front and center, so to be called out as someone who is annoying can be deterring.
Let’s always remember to be kind. Even if we don’t want to, we have to be kind because the things we say or do can affect someone’s well being.