Summary: With a nod to the newly-engaged Prince William of the U.K., we look at some really royal-sounding words ... with surprisingly pedestrian meanings.
Thanksgiving may be over in 2010, but that doesn't mean we can just stop being thankful. I'm personally grateful to my friends at Merriam-Webster.com, who continue to give me so many wonderful words—including two this week to share with you. These come from Volume 2 of their "Words For Things You Didn't Know Have Names" list. (Remember philtrum from Volume 1?)
The first of this week's WOW words is crown. Sounds regal, doesn't it? But according to the list, it has a meaning you probably couldn't guess ... unless you work for the Department of Transportation:
Crown (KROWN) - The highest point in a road.
Come again? Excuse me? You mean to say roads aren't flat? That's right. Roads are built to slope at the shoulder, so that rain water and other spillage runs off, and so that cars can hug the road on curves at turns. On a two-lane road, with slopes on either side, there is a peak in the middle where the lanes meet. This is the crown, or the high point. Taken from the Latin word corona (which was originally a curved wreath or garland), crown moved on to mean anything curved—like the Greek laurels worn in decorative honor by scholars and athletic champions. And from there, it eventually defined the headpieces of royalty. (M-W.com can also tell you in more detail about crown's verb forms.) It's from this concept—think "crowning glory"—that the highest point in the road is called a crown.
Now I know you're wondering, "Do the slopes in the road have names?" But of course!
Camber (KAM - ber) - The curving slope of a road's surface that allows water to drain off. From the French word cambre, meaning curved, camber can also be used as a verb, as in "to arch slightly or curve upward in the middle."
And by the way, if you want another bonus word, try looking up pedestrian. It matches this week's WOW theme.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Nov 29, 2010
Dec 2, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: Honest Thanksgiving is Truly Speaking Your Truth
Summary: I recently read two side-by-side newspaper articles about handling holiday stress that seemed to contradict each other: One said to accept your feelings for what they are, and the other said to give thanks all year round in order to attain happiness. Can these messages be meshed into one?
Recently, I started a subscription to my local paper. (Yes, I know: Newspapers are going by the way of the dinosaurs, but I just can't stop myself from putting up a bit of a fight on their behalf. ... Plus, the subscription costs are at an all-time low.) Over the weekend, during a brief break between family get-togethers, I sat down to a cup of coffee and the giant Sunday edition, and found myself drawn to two different articles about holiday stress.
One was titled, "Facing Feelings Leads to Healing," and was written by a columnist who's also a practicing therapist. Just beneath that was an AP article about the benefits of thanksgiving all year round.
If you put these two articles' messages together, the outcome is this: Humans are programmed to have emotional reactions to external (and internal) stress; a positive overall outlook is helpful—especially when tempered with a realistic acceptance of the stressful situation at hand.
One expert is quoted as saying, "You can't be depressed and grateful at the same time," which is actually one of my favorite little reminders in life's overwhelming moments. (Another is the phrase, "This, too, shall pass.") But the therapist-columnist writes that, before we make lemonade out of the lemons life gives us, we should "embrace the lemon" first.
I call that speaking your truth!
Peace be with you this holiday season as you balance your inner feelings with your outer world, always striving to accept yourself for who you are and your life for what it is, and ever remembering to be thankful for your own reality every day.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Recently, I started a subscription to my local paper. (Yes, I know: Newspapers are going by the way of the dinosaurs, but I just can't stop myself from putting up a bit of a fight on their behalf. ... Plus, the subscription costs are at an all-time low.) Over the weekend, during a brief break between family get-togethers, I sat down to a cup of coffee and the giant Sunday edition, and found myself drawn to two different articles about holiday stress.
One was titled, "Facing Feelings Leads to Healing," and was written by a columnist who's also a practicing therapist. Just beneath that was an AP article about the benefits of thanksgiving all year round.
If you put these two articles' messages together, the outcome is this: Humans are programmed to have emotional reactions to external (and internal) stress; a positive overall outlook is helpful—especially when tempered with a realistic acceptance of the stressful situation at hand.
One expert is quoted as saying, "You can't be depressed and grateful at the same time," which is actually one of my favorite little reminders in life's overwhelming moments. (Another is the phrase, "This, too, shall pass.") But the therapist-columnist writes that, before we make lemonade out of the lemons life gives us, we should "embrace the lemon" first.
I call that speaking your truth!
Peace be with you this holiday season as you balance your inner feelings with your outer world, always striving to accept yourself for who you are and your life for what it is, and ever remembering to be thankful for your own reality every day.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Nov 30, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Saturnalian
Summary: The ancient Roman holiday Saturnalia honored Saturn, the god of agriculture and harvest. This December festival was raucous and lasted up to a week. Today, English speakers refer to any rowdy party as saturnalian in spirit. Did you celebrate over the weekend with a healthy balance of fun and thanksgiving?
The winter months have long been a season of celebration, particularly in the northern hemisphere where the light recedes and human hibernation periods of sorts require a little more effort to focus on happiness. One such ancient celebration was Saturnalia.
Beginning on December 17, ancient Romans celebrated the god Saturn (who governed agriculture and harvest) by feasting—sometimes for days and eventually for an entire week—on the bounty of that year's harvest. Children were given a holiday from school, and public ceremonies took place, as well as private ones within households. Sound familiar? Saturnalia's final feast day was December 25.
Around 1590, the English language adopted the word saturnalian (SAT - er - NALE - yun) to describe any unrestrained (and often ornery) celebration. Many Americans are likely returning to work today, nursing their figurative wounds after saturnalian revelry in food, drink, and social celebration with family and friends; some likely celebrated, as I did, at more than one place!
This is the other side to the reverential spirit of Thanksgiving that may come with any holiday party. Balancing both sides is important. Are you still thankful today? And, just as importantly, did you have FUN over YOUR break?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
The winter months have long been a season of celebration, particularly in the northern hemisphere where the light recedes and human hibernation periods of sorts require a little more effort to focus on happiness. One such ancient celebration was Saturnalia.
Beginning on December 17, ancient Romans celebrated the god Saturn (who governed agriculture and harvest) by feasting—sometimes for days and eventually for an entire week—on the bounty of that year's harvest. Children were given a holiday from school, and public ceremonies took place, as well as private ones within households. Sound familiar? Saturnalia's final feast day was December 25.
Around 1590, the English language adopted the word saturnalian (SAT - er - NALE - yun) to describe any unrestrained (and often ornery) celebration. Many Americans are likely returning to work today, nursing their figurative wounds after saturnalian revelry in food, drink, and social celebration with family and friends; some likely celebrated, as I did, at more than one place!
This is the other side to the reverential spirit of Thanksgiving that may come with any holiday party. Balancing both sides is important. Are you still thankful today? And, just as importantly, did you have FUN over YOUR break?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Nov 27, 2009
WEEKLY UPDATE: Happy Thanksgiving!
Many thanksgivings to—and for—you and yours over this holiday weekend. I'd like to share some traditional prayers (which I found very contemporarily online) that reflect my own blended American heritage, and also remind us to give thanks regularly. These messages come from InspirationPeak.com.
But before I do that, I need to correct something from my last post: My great-great grandfather's name was George, not Eddie. (Eddie is a recently discovered long-lost relative whom my grandmother met, and who's name was stuck in my head from her story.)
Irish Fisherman's Prayer
Dear Lord,
Be good to me ...
The sea is so wide
And my boat is so small.
Pueblo Native American Prayer
Hold on to what is good,
Even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
Even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do
Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
Even if I've gone away from you.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
But before I do that, I need to correct something from my last post: My great-great grandfather's name was George, not Eddie. (Eddie is a recently discovered long-lost relative whom my grandmother met, and who's name was stuck in my head from her story.)
Irish Fisherman's Prayer
Dear Lord,
Be good to me ...
The sea is so wide
And my boat is so small.
Pueblo Native American Prayer
Hold on to what is good,
Even if it's a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe,
Even if it's a tree that stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do
Even if it's a long way from here.
Hold on to your life,
Even if it's easier to let go.
Hold on to my hand,
Even if I've gone away from you.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Nov 25, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: Genuine Gratitude (& How to Show It)
Summary: Gratitude lists are one way to show thanksgiving any time of year. But there are even more creative ways to be grateful. How do you do it?
Ever heard of a gratitude list? It's as basic as it sounds: Take out a sheet of paper and start writing down everything you can think of that you're thankful to have in your life: dog, car, apartment, life, money, highlights in hair (your list may read). As you do this exercise, notice how your body begins to feel lighter and your mouth just wants to smile!
That's the purpose of a gratitude list: to make you physically and mentally aware that there is joy in being you.
Thanksgiving, as we learned this week, can be practiced at any time—not just the last Thursday in November, and not just in the U.S. Anyone, anywhere, anytime at all can sit down and jot out at least half a dozen items that make him or her smile; things that make life easier. Even YOU can do this!
This week, I challenge you to get creative with your gratitude list, especially if it's something familiar to you. Sometimes, taking a novel approach to being grateful helps you really feel it inside. Here are some ways I've refreshed my own thanksgiving around Thanksgiving time:
- Last year, I made playlist of music for my iPod that I dubbed my "gratitude mix." I included a lot of songs with words like "thanks," "thank you," "gratitude" and "grateful" in the title or the lyrics—everything from "Kind and Generous" by Natalie Merchant to "Praise You" by Fat Boy Slim to several versions of "I Thank You" (ZZ Top, Bonnie Raitt, and the original Sam & Dave). As my mother and I shared the stove on Thanksgiving morning (and Dad minded the oven and the turkey), I shared my music with the family to get us into a grateful mood. It worked! We danced around the kitchen, sampling small bites of everything (to test it, of course) and growing happier and happier.
- Two years before that, I brought a special heart-engraved notebook to the Thanksgiving feast and passed it around to all of my relatives. I'd hand-written a note to each of them, naming at least one thing I was grateful to them for through the years. Then I offered them the opportunity to write down something they were grateful for in life, as well. Some people chose to tell me something they were grateful to me for specifically (a pleasant surprise that really made me feel loved); others wrote down something they were grateful for in general, while still others made out their very own gratitude lists.
- My sister-in-law came up with a wonderful idea that same year: All those who had written out a list should review it the following year to reflect on how bountiful their lives had become with the passage of time. That's what we did then, and it was a joyful experience for me to hear my teenage niece and nephew, particularly, reflect on what they were thankful for and smile in remembrance. We went around the table after that, each naming something aloud for which we gave thanksgiving anew.
How creative can you get (or have you gotten) with your gratitude?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Ever heard of a gratitude list? It's as basic as it sounds: Take out a sheet of paper and start writing down everything you can think of that you're thankful to have in your life: dog, car, apartment, life, money, highlights in hair (your list may read). As you do this exercise, notice how your body begins to feel lighter and your mouth just wants to smile!
That's the purpose of a gratitude list: to make you physically and mentally aware that there is joy in being you.
Thanksgiving, as we learned this week, can be practiced at any time—not just the last Thursday in November, and not just in the U.S. Anyone, anywhere, anytime at all can sit down and jot out at least half a dozen items that make him or her smile; things that make life easier. Even YOU can do this!
This week, I challenge you to get creative with your gratitude list, especially if it's something familiar to you. Sometimes, taking a novel approach to being grateful helps you really feel it inside. Here are some ways I've refreshed my own thanksgiving around Thanksgiving time:
- Last year, I made playlist of music for my iPod that I dubbed my "gratitude mix." I included a lot of songs with words like "thanks," "thank you," "gratitude" and "grateful" in the title or the lyrics—everything from "Kind and Generous" by Natalie Merchant to "Praise You" by Fat Boy Slim to several versions of "I Thank You" (ZZ Top, Bonnie Raitt, and the original Sam & Dave). As my mother and I shared the stove on Thanksgiving morning (and Dad minded the oven and the turkey), I shared my music with the family to get us into a grateful mood. It worked! We danced around the kitchen, sampling small bites of everything (to test it, of course) and growing happier and happier.
- Two years before that, I brought a special heart-engraved notebook to the Thanksgiving feast and passed it around to all of my relatives. I'd hand-written a note to each of them, naming at least one thing I was grateful to them for through the years. Then I offered them the opportunity to write down something they were grateful for in life, as well. Some people chose to tell me something they were grateful to me for specifically (a pleasant surprise that really made me feel loved); others wrote down something they were grateful for in general, while still others made out their very own gratitude lists.
- My sister-in-law came up with a wonderful idea that same year: All those who had written out a list should review it the following year to reflect on how bountiful their lives had become with the passage of time. That's what we did then, and it was a joyful experience for me to hear my teenage niece and nephew, particularly, reflect on what they were thankful for and smile in remembrance. We went around the table after that, each naming something aloud for which we gave thanksgiving anew.
How creative can you get (or have you gotten) with your gratitude?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Nov 23, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Thanksgiving!
Summary: The word thanksgiving isn't reserved only for the holiday. What are you thankful for?
Naturally, this week's word is thanksgiving. Not only is it the name of the holiday we'll be celebrating in the U.S. this Thursday, it's also a word in and of itself.
Entering the English language circa 1533, thanksgiving (commonly pronounced as THANKS - GIV -ing, but also sometimes as THANKS - GIV - ing) is a noun that means simply, the act of giving thanks, or being grateful. It can also be a public acknowledgment of gratitutde, especially in the form of a prayer—or even more so around this time of year, a public celebration.
There's some speculation that our contemporary Thanksgiving Day rituals draw from Native American ceremonies, particularly that of the potlatch (Americanized in the mid-1800s as POT - latch). In a traditional potlatch feast, a host welcomed many visitors to his or her home, plied them with lots of delicious food, and even gave away treasured personal items to show gratitude, generosity and respect. The purposes for such grand gestures were varied (from sharing tremendous wealth and other blessings to warding off potential bad luck), but the spirit of giving was always an integral part of the potlatch.
This time of year is special to me. It reminds me of my great-grandmother, who relished the symbolic meshing of cultures inherent in America's Thanksgiving holiday. She liked to tell this story:
"In the late 1800s, a Pueblo Native American tribe felled a large tree and carved it into a long table, complete with seats, then dressed it for a grand feast where they welcomed some Irish immigrants who were new to the United States. Over the years, a little boy from the tribe and a little girl from the group of immigrants became friends, and eventually, they grew up and fell in love. But this caused a scandal among both of their families, so they fled to the rural Midwest to start a shared life and a family of their own, combining their ways.
"The man was known as Eddie Thompson. But my sisters and I called him Pop. He was your great-great grandfather." Then she would smile, pinch my cheeks and say, "So, that's why you get so beautifully brown in the summers and have those lovely, high cheekbones!"
Regardless of what I may feel politically about American history, one way or another, this week I can say for certain that I'll recall with fond thanksgiving the jovial and generous spirit of my amazing great-grandmother and her wonderful way with words. And I'm further grateful for her teaching me my own personal history the best way that she could: through story.
Do you have thanksgiving this week in your heart? And if so, why?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Naturally, this week's word is thanksgiving. Not only is it the name of the holiday we'll be celebrating in the U.S. this Thursday, it's also a word in and of itself.
Entering the English language circa 1533, thanksgiving (commonly pronounced as THANKS - GIV -ing, but also sometimes as THANKS - GIV - ing) is a noun that means simply, the act of giving thanks, or being grateful. It can also be a public acknowledgment of gratitutde, especially in the form of a prayer—or even more so around this time of year, a public celebration.
There's some speculation that our contemporary Thanksgiving Day rituals draw from Native American ceremonies, particularly that of the potlatch (Americanized in the mid-1800s as POT - latch). In a traditional potlatch feast, a host welcomed many visitors to his or her home, plied them with lots of delicious food, and even gave away treasured personal items to show gratitude, generosity and respect. The purposes for such grand gestures were varied (from sharing tremendous wealth and other blessings to warding off potential bad luck), but the spirit of giving was always an integral part of the potlatch.
This time of year is special to me. It reminds me of my great-grandmother, who relished the symbolic meshing of cultures inherent in America's Thanksgiving holiday. She liked to tell this story:
"In the late 1800s, a Pueblo Native American tribe felled a large tree and carved it into a long table, complete with seats, then dressed it for a grand feast where they welcomed some Irish immigrants who were new to the United States. Over the years, a little boy from the tribe and a little girl from the group of immigrants became friends, and eventually, they grew up and fell in love. But this caused a scandal among both of their families, so they fled to the rural Midwest to start a shared life and a family of their own, combining their ways.
"The man was known as Eddie Thompson. But my sisters and I called him Pop. He was your great-great grandfather." Then she would smile, pinch my cheeks and say, "So, that's why you get so beautifully brown in the summers and have those lovely, high cheekbones!"
Regardless of what I may feel politically about American history, one way or another, this week I can say for certain that I'll recall with fond thanksgiving the jovial and generous spirit of my amazing great-grandmother and her wonderful way with words. And I'm further grateful for her teaching me my own personal history the best way that she could: through story.
Do you have thanksgiving this week in your heart? And if so, why?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
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