Living with Words
On the climber the grand has christened, “Sparkling Creek Folly.” Stairs and tunnel slide to come. A place where it is easy to seek joy.
Word
Term
Expression
Language
Tongue
Communication
What’s in a word?
I’ve been obsessed with words for as long as I can remember.
Mother had a huge Oxford American English Dictionary that lived in the righthand corner of the bottom shelf on the bookcase just outside the kitchen. We used the well-worn tome daily.
Mother, an avid reader, looked up any word she encountered with which she was unfamiliar. She used it to help with crossword puzzles.
If I asked how to spell a word, Mother wouldn’t tell me. She’d make me look it up. Once the dictionary was out, I’d get lost in the pages.
I wish I owned the twenty-volume set of the complete Oxford English Dictionary. I do have a fat single-volume version of it (with tiny print). I have at least four more dictionaries and the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology.
It’s been many-a-day since I last spent hours reading the dictionary, but after my writing group met to discuss our next theme, living with intention, out came the tomes.
I’d listened closely as our facilitator, Helen, reviewed the slides with writing prompts. The timing of the theme felt perfect as I’m in the process of conducting my quarterly ‘life review’ where I check in with myself to see if I’m meeting my goals.
After Helen’s presentation, I found myself flummoxed. I asked the group to help understand the difference between intentions and goals.
Someone said that goals are external and intentions are internal.
That helped a little. I thought about what I’ve described as a ‘life goals.’ I picked one of them, “Create a home that is comfortable and inviting,” and I asked if that was a goal or an intention.
The general consensus was that that is an intention, even though the house in which I make my home is an external object. The desire I have for folks to feel welcomed and comfortable when they get here, that is what makes it an intention.
When our meeting ended, I thought I had a handle on the concepts. But when I tried to come up with an essay, I again felt lost.
Despite the helpful explanations of my writing group, all those long years of hearing the terms—goals, resolutions, intentions—used interchangeably had permeated my thinking. I was stuck.
I opened Chambers to start with etymology.
Intent: formed in English from a fusion of Old French entent intention, application, and entente intention, thought, desire, purpose; both forms being borrowed from the Latin…intenta, n., a stretching out, a straining, an intending.
Interesting. I can see the evolution from a physical movement (stretching/straining) to an internal version of the same, to thought and purpose.
Resolution: Before 1397 resolucion a breaking up into parts…The meaning of a solving or answering is first recorded in 1548, probably from the sense of frame of mind, decision (1438).
Ooh. I like that.
Goal: 1531, a place where a race ends...
Praises be! My light bulb moment of clarity! Now I see it. Now I understand.
If there is no place for the race to end, the objective should not be classified as a goal.
Creating a comfortable, welcoming home is ongoing. It’s not a goal one can reach just by buying cozy furniture. It’s cleanliness and a ‘come on in and sit a spell’ attitude.
To respond from values, not the mistakes of myself or others is an ongoing life quest.
Will this better understanding of language make any difference in my quest to live my best life? Does it matter whether my aim is a goal or an intention? I’ll keep you posted.
Either way, I enjoy understanding the language better.
Last year, my ‘word of the year’ was joy. This year, I initially chose determined, but realized that what I felt determined to do, was to seek joy.
In March, I came across a quote by Joseph Campbell, “Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world.” Later, I explored the quote in more depth as I approached my mid-year review (see Joy). I’ve really taken this idea into my core.
Which brings me back to living with intention. My main intention is to seek joy, not just in the happy bits of life, but also in the sorrows.
I’ve already faced many sorrows—losing Mother, my sisters, aspects of my health. But if I stick around on this beautiful, blue orb, more sorrows await me. Loved ones will die. More frailties are likely.
Climate change. War. Humans’ inhumanity to one another.
My intention is to participate joyfully in it all. This is my vocation. This is how I will live most deeply.
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PHOTO CREDITS:
Folly pic by Hubby
Thank you photo and background painting for quotation from the Library of Congress.
