It was a weekend filled with family and camping. These weekends are the opportunity to forgo vacuuming, laundry, and grocery shopping. Yes, I’ll have to make up for it later, and that’s quite fine. I enjoyed time to get immersed in a new book, run and cycle on some friendly hills, nap, eat and relax.

I’ve had this on my mind for a little while — research words in other languages that don’t translate to an exact English word. With time on my side, I did some research which I’d like to share.  I wrote down several words with their meanings. Tonight as I communicate with you, it occurred to me the words I chose to jot down center around three themes:  food, relationships, and peacefulness.  This entry includes the food theme.

Food

Sobremesa (Spanish) – the moment when the food is gone but conversation still flows at the table. I love when this happens!

Shemomedjamo (Georgian) – when you’re really full, but the meal is so delicious you can’t stop eating. Been here, many times!

Physiggoomai (ancient Greek) – a person excited by garlic. Definitely me!

Pelinti (Ghana) – when you bite into food that’s too hot so you tilt your head trying to move it around in your mouth. Embarrassed to admit this occurs when I’m to impatient to wait for delicious food to cool a bit.

Abbiocco (Italian) – the drowsy feeling after a big meal. This happens and not only after our Thanksgiving meal!

This was super informal research with my friend Google. It was entertaining, and I definitely wasn’t bored. It’s interesting to think that with over a million words in the English language we can still have words that just don’t translate well.

How many of these food situations do you relate to?

Stay tuned for the relationship and peacefulness non-translatable words.

Slainte!  Susan

The week was wavy! I wonder what you do to calm the waters.

Plumbing issues in an old (loved) home are like having OJ after brushing your teeth. The week started with this unwelcome combination.  Then, work related events contributed to continuing waves.

A set of skilled plumbers (it took three men to finally get one who was slim enough to fit through the crawl space) sensed my plumbing panic when I learned the water had been gushing under the house for at least three days, and went right to work.  Fixed now!

Work incidents always smooth out, and I remind myself I don’t have to be a perfectionist or be so hard on myself.

Through this wavy week, I watched myself assuage my soul. It sort of felt like I was outside looking in, like a lab rat being observed by the white coated scientist.  I put my perspective in check. I reminded myself I don’t have to look far to see people who have suffered devastation with the wild fires. Our hearts go out to them. I ate a bag of Cheetos (just the individual serving sized bag… uuggh they were delicious!) and helped them down with a cold cider (this reminds me of my Irish vacation-always a mood booster). The most beneficial and soul satisfying events:  a longish run with dear friends, a bike ride in the park, scrolling through photos of scenic Scotland (dreaming of another vacation), and purchasing tickets for an upcoming show at our local performing arts theater.

I wished to report the most effective self-soothing methods didn’t cost a dime, and I was able to report this fact, until tonight. But, no regrets as an evening at the Gallo Center is always lovely! A high five that I kept the calories mostly in check, except cheesy puffs and a cider. It could have been worse. It wasn’t a perfect recipe for overcoming wave-filled days, although it could have been worse!

Another week is here, and I’m focused again on the positives. I’m refocused and ready! The Cheetos are gone!

What types of activities help you refocus after wavy days?

Please remove this word from the dictionary!

Over 1 million English words exist. An exact count is unfathomable. The Oxford English Dictionary makes dictionary updates four times per year. In June of 2015, five-hundred words were added or updated. And, some words are deleted because they just become obsolete.

Words come and go. As a lover of words and the English language, I look forward to the “word of the year” announcement.  Previous year’s words: podcast (’05), locavore (’07), unfriend (’09) and selfie (’13). Other additions you likely use are emoji, leggings, and upcycle. And, when words just don’t get used any longer, they are removed from future print dictionaries.  Brabble (a noisy quarrel) and growlery (a private room to growl in-perhaps a modern day “man cave”) will no longer be printed in some paper dictionaries.

My proposal is to remove “bored” from all dictionaries. In a world filled with topics to learn about, places to visit, new hobbies to learn or revisit, volunteer opportunities, curiosities to satisfy, books to devour, letters to write, research to  conduct, exercise to be done, and even chores that when completed will give you a huge sense of satisfaction–how can people be bored?

Make a list of what you’d like to know more about. Start researching; what are you waiting for? I’m old enough to remember life without the internet! The internet is free and fascinating information is out there, to be discovered by you. Great Courses offers numerous, reasonable topics of interest that you can learn about in your own home. Be inspired with TED talks. (Two of my favorites are here and here.)  You know those local places you’ve been meaning to visit?  Go there.  We have a few historic local places in my area, and I’m sure you do too! Our community college offers low cost, non-traditional short classes (one to four evenings)- think various types of cooking, jam or bread making, fly fishing, music, computers, and more.

To be absolutely clear, I am not suggesting for a second that you don’t rest your mind and body.  Rest and definitely sleep are some of the most important aspects of healthy living.  And, if your schedule is already packed to the brim, see the previous sentence. Not every minute of the day must be filled with an activity. I’ve read that a happy mind is a busy mind, and yet know that a happy mind is a rested mind too.

Just lately I’ve been hearing the “I’m bored” phrase more often than not. My mother’s line, “If you’re bored, it’s your fault.”

Okay, I’m not powerful enough to have this word officially removed from dictionaries, print or online, but can I encourage you to remove it from yours and others?

Slainte! Susan

In other news…

• Drinking water from my Mason jars is refreshing. While I’m sure you join me as I yearn for cooler weather, this hot spell has called for extra hydration.  The glass jars get really cold in the fridge and stays cold for a while after removed.
• I dusted my piano this morning.  And, I’m happy to report that I did play twice last week!
• Four people at my workplace ordered adult coloring books! Today on Amazon, adult coloring books hold the number 4, 6, and 10 best seller spots.
• My recent fascination is with all things Scotland!
• I’m improving on my new bike.

I walk by it numerous times in a day. Dust it weekly-all 88 keys.  I sit down to play my piano…occasionally.

You know when those waves hit, there are numerous ways to refresh.  Exercise is one way to overcome a wave.  We know exercise produces endorphins, and endorphins produce positive feelings.  A brisk walk, run, or a jaunt on my new bike is a sure way to help me reframe my thoughts.

Playing my piano is another. Researchers know that playing a musical instrument can improve physical and emotional health. I read about a high powered business exec who spends a few minutes relaxing in her toddler’s playroom making music with a toy piano! I don’t know that any of you would do that, but hey! You never know. If you don’t want to bang on toy tambourines and kid-sized pianos, listening to music can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress hormones. Turn off your TV and select some relaxing music. 

I don’t recall how old I was when piano lessons started or how many years I went.  Nor, do I know how my folks fit Mrs. Blakey’s weekly fee into their already tight budget. Mrs. Blakely was my kind and elegant music teacher. What I most remember is that the color of pen she used corresponded with her outfit. Orange shirt, orange felt-tip pen. Purple dress, purple pen.  My recollections don’t include despising lessons, but I didn’t look forward to them either. As a pre-teen I would have considered the whole piano practicing a “wave” in my life. Talking on the phone with friends was a priority. (That along with call waiting was our “social media” for the day.)

Many years later, I am grateful that my folks “made me” endure those weekly lessons and “nagged” me to practice! I am happy to report that I still play today, even if only occasionally. Playing is always restorative. I am grateful for these things: 1. My folks “encouragement” of these lessons. 2. Another way to effectively reframe my attitude!

This entry is two-fold. 1. Did you have something you disliked as a child, but are grateful for as an adult?  2.  What works for you when you come up against a wave?

Knowing how to play the piano is a ray of sunshine, and no longer a wave for me!

Slainte! Susan

P.S. Confession: Sometimes I dust my piano more often than I play it.  Something to work on!