Elan

Elan is a noun (French origin) that illustrates a feeling of eagerness or passion about something. It describes a person who is filled with enthusiasm, a distinctive flair and vigorous spirit.  

An example of how the word is used: 

"The actor performed with great elan and sophistication". 

Quite often we find that people with this level of verve are creative artists. People who are passionate about painting, sculpting, writing and performing music, dancing, photography or writing. Business entrepreneurs and athletes are also filled with great elan. 

I believe that life is much more satisfying if you can do something that fills you with passion and enthusiasm.   What are you passionate about? 

Morale is the state of mind.  It is steadfastness and courage and hope.  It is confidence and zeal and loyalty.  It is elan, esprit decorps and determination.   General George Catlett Marshall (American military commander - 1880-1959) 

Idiom

Idiom is a noun that refers to an expression that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meaning of it's elements.  Got it?

We use idiom's every day and it is amazing how they become so ingrained in our culture and vernacular that we immediately understand the meaning.  Here are several examples:

• A blessing in disguise - something good that isn't recognized at first
• A penny saved is a penny earned - by not spending money, you are saving money
• A piece of cake - a task that can be accomplished easily
• Bend over backwards - willing to do anything to help out
• Break a leg - a superstitious way to say "good luck"
• Haste makes waste - doing things quickly results in a poor outcome
• Hit the sack - go to bed or go to sleep
• When pigs fly - something that will never happen
• Mums the word - to keep quiet
• Raining cats and dogs - a very loud and noisy rain storm

I heard one at work the other day that I had not heard before - warming the frog.   Do you know what it means?  I heard that it means socializing an idea with decision makers in a business environment before a presentation is made in order to get the desired decision.  Funny! 

What's your favorite idiom?   

"The great enemy of clear language is insincerity.  When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns, as it were, instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink."  George Orwell

Popinjay

This weeks word is Popinjay.  Popinjay describes a conceited, pompous, pretentious and talkative person.  Obviously a noun and its origin is French.  In France it started out as "papegai" which means parrot. It began as a metaphor for a colorful bird, referring to people who dress in flamboyant manner.  Today it refers to people who show off in any manner.

Popinjay or Popingo is also a European (Denmark, Scotland and Belgium) shooting sport most common in the form of archery, but also with rifles. The target for this shooting sport is a wooden bird.

Words are wonderful, don't you agree?  It is always interesting to me how the same word can mean something different, depending on the culture and/or era.

I wonder if I will see a Popinjay today?

"A serious writer is not to be confounded with a solemn writer. A serious writer may be a hawk or a buzzard or even a popinjay, but a solemn writer is always a bloody owl"  Ernest Hemingway

Phobia

The word Phobia is a noun (Greek - origin 1780-90) that describes an overwhelming and persistent fear of an object or situation. Everyone has periods of brief anxiety, like making a presentation, going to the dentist or taking a test. A phobia is something that is long-lasting and causes intense physical and emotional reactions.

We all have fears that we deal with and overcome everyday; people with phobias become paralyzed. It is normal to be a little nervous when flying in an airplane, especially when there is turbulence. Someone with a serious phobia about flying will pass up going to a special family event, because they are afraid to fly.  

Most of us are aware of some common phobias such as Claustrophobia, a fear of confined spaces or Acrophobia, a fear of heights. But have you ever heard of Phronemophobia, fear of thinking or Alliumphobia, a fear of garlic or Bibliophobia, a fear of books? Amazing! 

I found this website with hundreds of phobias http://phobialist.com, if you want to learn more about the unusual phobias. 

Fortunately, phobias can be overcome with treatment.  Fears generally come from a lack of understanding and through education and practice can be conquered.  

Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real - author unknown

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Equinox

Equinox is a noun (origin 1350-1400 - Latin) that refers to the time when the center of the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, making night and day equal in length all over the earth. It is a precise moment in time common to all people on earth.  This event occurs twice each year around March 20 and Sept 20.  It marks the beginning of the seasons of Spring and Autumn. 

Both Spring and Autumn are my favorite seasons of the year for similar, yet different reasons.  They represent periods of seasonal change and teach us that change is something to embrace and cherish.  

Spring brings renewal, refreshment of the spirit, rebirth, life and growth. For me, this is a time when I look forward to the possibilities that lie before me with hope and wonderment. 

Autumn brings a time of reflection, learning and change. As the colors of the leaves change, this is when I pause and reflect on the year, learn from my mistakes and discover ways I can improve.  

Both are times of growth and change to be appreciated and celebrated.    

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.

You know how it is with an April day. ~Robert Frost

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.     

Bern Williams

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" Robin Williams

Thaumatology

Thaumatology (a noun) is the study or description of miracles.   The origin of the word is Greek, 1850-1855.  The root of the word thaumato comes from Greek thauma - "wonder or  marvel".   If one is a miracle worker they are referred to as a thaumaturge or thaumaturgist.  

Broadly, it is the study of wonderworking and a theoretical analysis of the principles upon which the practice of magic is based.  It is a word recently brought back to life by Harry Potter with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

Do you believe in miracles?  Do you believe in magic?  Are they the same?  

I love the use of this word by the English author HG Wells in 1898 from his book: 

The Man Who Could work Miracles  - "There were astonishing changes.  The small hours found Mr. Maydig and Mr. Fotheringay careering across the chilly market square under the still moon, in a sort of ecstasy of thaumaturgy, Mr. Maydig all flap and gesture, Mr. Fotheringay short and bristling, and no longer abashed at his greatness". 

"Seeing, feeling and hearing are miracles, and each part and tag of me is a miracle" 

Walt Whitman