This week's misused words are black and white as they are used to describe people. I really don't like labels. People are so much more than the labels we want to put on them. God made individuals with various and wondrous complexities, not a bunch of stereotypes that fit a few predetermined molds. When I look at someone, I don't see the color of their skin, their gender, marital status or nationality. I see a unique person with views, ideas, likes and dislikes, talents and hang-ups, strengths and weaknesses, needs and gifts all his own. I see someone I might learn from, someone I might be of help to and someone I might connect with. From the time of my...
Today is Word Wednesday here on Communication FUNdamentals and it's also my birthday! According to my kids, I'm old. In fact, my dd has been calling me ancient since she was about 3yrs old. She's now 20, I'm currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of my 18th birthday and you can do the math on that one! Old is another one of those words that has been misused in my, perhaps seasoned, opinion. I mean, what is old anyway? If you ask a 3 y/o what old is, she'll probably say twenty. If you ask a 20 y/o, she'll probably say 30. If you ask a 48 y/o she'll probably say, "Hey! Are you calling me old?!" Besides, what is an...
By JoJo (What does the "D" and the fence mean?) Tabares [This week's Word Wednesday post is brought to you by the word "obvious" and the number of times it isn't.] I'm five foot nuthin' so when someone doesn't notice me standing in front of the sales counter, I don't always blame them. I'm easy to miss. Last Sunday at church, I saw a young man who was drawing some amount of attention at the entrance. As my father has been known to say, he had a serious case of TALL! I think I came up to his belt buckle. ;D At five foot and no inches, I'm not so obvious. But as I'll share with you in just a...
If Shakespeare can do it, so can I! I just invented a word: "reascuses" (ree-sku'-sez). "Reascuses" are when the line between reasons and excuses is intentionally blurred. "Reascuses" are...well... Take a look at my latest JoJoism: JoJoism#49 "A reason is what I have for not doing something for you. An excuse is what you have for not doing something for me." JoJoisms: Revealing Life's Truths...as i think of 'em! My reasons are often in conflict with your excuses and so the lines are blurred to make the excuses appear more like they are reasons. Any excuse I give is really a reason and any reason you give, if it conflicts with what I want to hear, is an excuse! For...
Literally, according to Merriam Webster, the word "literally" literally means: Main Entry: lit·er·al·ly Pronunciation: ?li-t?-r?-l?, ?li-tr?-l?, ?li-t?r-l? Function: adverb Date: 1533 1 : in a literal sense or manner : actually <took the remark literally> <was literally insane> 2 : in effect : virtually <will literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or injustice — Norman Cousins> Usage: Since some people take sense 2 to be the opposite of sense 1, it has been frequently criticized as a misuse. Instead, the use is pure hyperbole intended to gain emphasis, but it often appears in contexts where no additional emphasis is necessary. People use the word "literally" when they literally mean it actually, really, literally happened. And it has...
