Use words!

Typically, when someone asks, “How are you?” you reply, “I’m okay" or “I’m fine.”

I believe I have mentioned my thoughts on F.I.N.E. Being "fine" is a code between me and Beloved, and it really translates to being

Fucked up,
Insecure,
Neurotic, and
Emotional

It's a good code. I mean, how often do you hear someone angrily or sarcastically say, "Oh, yeah, I'm just fine!"

On top of my own idiocracy, there is more random web-wanderings that I have chosen to inflict on you. There are 171,476 words in the Second Edition of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, and yet the average American knows only about 60,000. That means people don't use three-quarters of the words in the dictionary! That is insane!

Worse though, studies have found that people who are prompted to convey emotion tend to be negative. This and the dystopias I mentioned on Saturday have got me thinking. How much of our attitude is based on the words that we use? What would happen if we all tried to use language that was skewed to be positive? How might the emotional charge of a language correlate with cultural norms and social features?

So, I have a new challenge. It is vaguely inspired by Girl, because we are constantly encouraging her to "use words". It is partly born out of harder conversation with Beloved over our date night. It is a "fake it 'til you make it" thought that if the attitude changes, perhaps the outlook will improve.

Use words that encourage happiness.

happy, alive, fabulous, ecstatic, inspired, marvelous, content, terrific, amazing, exuberant, relaxed, tickled, merry, wonderful, beautiful, euphoric, lighthearted, vivacious, heavenly, awesome, magnificent, fortunate, blessed, glad, thrilled

Help me out here...what else?

The challenge is not only use the words...MEAN THEM. I'm pretty sure that EVERY DAY I can find some reason to be happy. Care to try this challenge out with me?