Remember Johnny’s last gasp in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton? Recognizing that Ponyboy was better than the average hoodlum, Johnny wanted him to hold onto the golden qualities that set him apart from their companions. So, he urged Ponyboy to “stay gold,” or remain innocent — a reference to the Robert Frost poem Ponyboy had recited previously while the two hid out in an old, abondoned church.

Faced with challenges, filled with fear and uncertainty, these two beloved characters clung to words written long before their time to help them make sense of their world. It is often in the words of others that we find fresh ways to frame our experiences and shape our perspectives.

Words have power. The words we hear, the words we read, the words we use to form the thoughts that race through our minds during difficult times can make or break our ability to cope with the curveballs life throws our way.

I challenge you to do two things to help you cope with the changes and challenges brought about by the coronavirus:

1. Collect positive quotes, memes, and meaningful song lyrics and poems in a notebook. Scribble them down on physical pages or copy and paste them on virtual pages (think OneNote). The words of others have the power to inspire us and help us heal.
2. Try expressive writing. Many have relied on this positive practice in times of turmoil, including Anne Frank and The Freedom Writers. Whether you put pen to paper or type on a computer, writing about stressful experiences or emotionally charged issues in your life can be good for your health and emotional well-being.

What better way to help us cope with being cooped up courtesy of COVID-19? Own your power with words today. A multitude of new understandings could come your way, such as the one stemming from a few lines of prose in “Nothing Gold Can Stay.”