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"word play"
Do you ever hear someone cut loose with an old saying or figure of speech that brings a blast from the past?
I heard a man say to a colleague last week, "Your getting a little long in the tooth for that." I haven't heard that one in a long while.
Do you know what "long in the tooth" refers to? No fair searching Google - ok, go ahead - I won't tell.
It may technically be called a palindrome, but I think it's just "backwords." Backwords is my made-up term for words that spell a word in either direction.
Some of my favorites are:
lived - devil
desserts – stressed
redrawer – rewarder
deliver – reviled
gateman – nametag
leveler – relevel
evil - live
Do you know of any other "backwords?"
There are things I do and say that make my day great. This 10 day series is about those things.
10. Saying "I Thank You". When I say "I thank you" to others, I feel more grateful. Plus, when people hear the 'I" it impacts them more. People do care about others. When I let people know I respect and appreciate them, we all seem to fare better. So, I Thank You for being here today and for sharing in my little 10 Day Changers series.
There are things I do and say that make my day great. This 10 day series is about those things.
4. Use a 'mantra.' I have a small plastic card of positive affirmations that I have memorized, so I often recite (yes, out loud) them as I drive. Recite one of them 10 times and they work. Every time. Every single time. Here are a couple of them: 1. Today I will win. Why? I'll tell you why - because I have faith, courage and enthusiasm. -Tom Hopkins 2. I have the exact tools I need for the exact challenges of this day. I'm well equipped. 3. Today is a gift. I am immensely grateful for it.
There are things I do and say that make my day great. This 10 day series is about those things.
3. Read. Just read for readings sake. When I take 15 minutes and read - without listening to music, watching my email come in, or being tempted to answer the phone - I learn something and then (get this part, it is important) I take 5-10 minutes to let what I read sink in. I just sit and think about what I read. there is something magical about down-time in between exposure to new information.
A quick series of posts on the 5 things that are "DONT'S" in life, in descending order. I know this for a fact. Let's just leave it at that.
3. Speaking too Few Kind Words.
Our criticisms and curses are ready to leap from our mouths when given a pause in the conversation. We whine about people, places and things - effortlessly. How often do we speak kindness into our places of work, family or recreation? From a simple 'thank you' to a sincere compliment - our words have great life giving power to others.
Penitence for this lack of kind speech is as follows. Right now, walk up to the nearest person and give them a compliment. Do it now and come back here for more tomorrow.
When the wind blows in from the sea you can hear
the crackle of palm fronds
breaking free from the heat
the hiss of sea oats
bowing defiantly inland
the whisper of sand
celebrating its lofty release from gravity
the sputter of foam
cascading skyward cut from wave caps
the chimes of delicate shells
dancing across dunes
When the wind blows in from the sea you can hear
the prayers of ancient mariners
reaching home
Image used by Permission
Nike said, “Just Do It!”
The word is out, and yet we too often keep using it. My days are busy rushing to get things done, and someone asks me to do one more thing. Instinctively, I hedge my commitment with, “I’ll try.” A colleague offers a valid improvement in my technique and suggests that I make a change. Hesitantly I agree, “O.K. I’ll try.”
The difference e between saying “try” and “do” may seem subtle, but it is powerful.
Find a pencil or pen right now.
Yes. Really. Go find one.
Set the pencil on the table in front of you. Now ‘try’ and pick it up. Fact is, either you did it, or you didn’t. Yoda is right. There is no try. Try is something we are not committed to doing.
My suggestion for today is that we stop saying ‘try’ and make the commitment to do things we need to do, or simply want to do. Proclaiming “I’ll do it” may lead us to failure, but failure is the friction that makes success possible – and that is another post…
Do It!
The artist doesn't have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don't have the time to read reviews. - William Faulkner
There are certain words, that if you are going to use them, you should really know what they mean. Today’s example includes three words with related, but quantifiably different meanings. Read on, dear reader and just feel the brain matter expanding.
Our words are: Moron, Imbecile and Idiot. According to a very old and not necessarily contemporary dictionary of mine, these words reflect classifications of mental aptitude related to a person’s IQ.
Idiot = < 25 IQ
Imbecile = 25-50 IQ
Moron = 50-75 IQ
Therefore, while it may make sense to proclaim, “Don’t be an idiot, you moron!” Stating, “You’re a moron, you idiot,” would be a compliment – of sorts. Which begs the question, which is worse, a moronic idiot, or an imbecilic moron?
Aren’t you glad you stopped by?
Our words are: Moron, Imbecile and Idiot. According to a very old and not necessarily contemporary dictionary of mine, these words reflect classifications of mental aptitude related to a person’s IQ.
Idiot = < 25 IQ
Imbecile = 25-50 IQ
Moron = 50-75 IQ
Therefore, while it may make sense to proclaim, “Don’t be an idiot, you moron!” Stating, “You’re a moron, you idiot,” would be a compliment – of sorts. Which begs the question, which is worse, a moronic idiot, or an imbecilic moron?
Aren’t you glad you stopped by?