Umbrance — unspoken influence | aesthetic words

Umbrance (uhm-bruhns)

I love this word—Umbrance, coined by Sadia Hakim, blending Umbra (Latin for shadow) and Presence from Presentia (Latin for existence, the state of being present or at hand, or being felt) meaning “unspoken influence”.

It describes a shadow-like presence—something unseen yet undeniably shaping reality. Like dark matter sculpting the universe, it is an invisible force that moves through our lives, felt just as strongly in its absence as in its presence.

I often think about it—how much of who we are is shaped by those who may not even realize their impact? How often does a single word—spoken or left unsaid—change the course of our lives?

A passing compliment that stays embossed on the mind like a soft glow, a moment of validation that opens doors we never dared to walk through, a glance of disapproval that settles like a weight, shifting our direction without us even noticing.

Umbrance is the weight of unspoken influence—the way someone’s approval strengthens our resolve, how their silence plants hesitation, how an unexpected interaction embeds itself into the greys and whites of our existence, reshaping the journey we once thought was ours alone.

Some people, whether near or distant, alive or gone, do not just exist in our memories—they infuse themselves into the very structure of our becoming intentionally or unintentionally. I love how we take this influence from people and an outside world subconsciously. And I fear this very thing.

Their presence is not always seen, yet their influence moves like an unseen current beneath the surface, directing the tide of our choices. Their words, their absence, their belief in us—or the lack of it—are forces that mold the paths we take. In ways both subtle and profound, they become architects of our destiny, handcrafting the life we live long after they have spoken, stayed, or left.

Umbrance is the way a person, even in their absence, continues to exist in the quiet corners of our hearts. It is the soft voice inside our heads that still soothes us in moments of unrest, the warmth of a gentle hug or a tight handshake we can still feel in the coldest hours, the weight of a promise that never truly faded.

Some people imprint themselves upon us so deeply that time cannot erase them. They do not have to be near for our soul to recognize them—some people become part of us in ways even we cannot explain. They are unseen, yet they shape everything we are, everything we touch, everything we become.

I love how two people have the power to shape each other’s souls, destinies, journeys, destinations, and realities—positively or negatively.

— Sadia Hakim  | from Neo-Logophilia Series