Pronounced:  LAW-guh-file meaning love of words.

Welcome to my world of words.  My love of words has been mostly deprived since 2016 when my daughter Bridgette “crashed.”  She had some medical issues (truly medical) and chose to disengage with all (and I mean all) friends and family.  Basically, I have not done any reading since then.  I could turn the pages; but lacked concentration.  I hope I can write more about her, her circumstances, and regain my interest in reading and writing more.  Things like this take time, lots of time, and patience from others and with myself.

For today, I’ll describe myself as a “logophile.”  It sounds like it could be, but it is not a “dirty” word.  It is the term that describes my love of words.  I’m not one of those snobby word people who talk a foreign language of English words to be impressive.  I like to understand new words and apply them if appropriate.  I like to be colorfully descriptive with words; but not in a ridiculously hard way to understand.  I like to cause some curiosities when possible.

My sisters and cousins would agree that we came by this interest naturally with our shared Irish genetics.  Learning in general was a priority.  Word discussions and spelling bees broke out at the dinner table regularly.  It is no surprise that many of our family members were and are teachers or in various medical fields.  I would be remiss if I didn’t carry forward this interest with my daughter Heather, her daughters Holly and Leah, and Bridgette’s daughters, Kayla and Gracie.  The only online game I play is “Words” with a couple friends. Others are invited to join me if interested. I play when I have time and only for fun.

I have a former work colleague, Jim, who wrote professionally for our mutual health care employer.  He probably cringes if he reads some of my stories, but I’m okay with that.  I might not always write perfectly in terms of grammar or punctuation, and occasionally it may be intentional. I do write for my own enjoyment perfectly though.

“I don’t just speak English; I am deeply interested in vocabulary. Think of me as a verbal hoarder.  Words are my drug of choice.  I’m basically addicted to adjectives.  Some people collect vintage stamps or stray cats. I collect syllables. My brain is basically a high-end thrift store for adjectives I’ll probably never get to use in a grocery store.

Try this word today:  “Meliorism.”  Pronounced MEE-lee-uh-riz-um.  Say it again.  MEE-lee-uh-riz-um.  I am not ashamed to admit I did not know what it meant.  I don’t know where or when I found this word; but I tucked it away for future enjoyment.  It may become very familiar to me as it makes sense in our world today.  Let me explain why.

Meliorism is a philosophical belief that the world can be made better through human effort. Could this word save or at least improve our world?  What melioristic effort have you observed in your life?  What have you done to make a difference?  Did you have a teacher whose meliorism taught that anything was possible, and students can make a difference?

Can you please tell me about your favorite word?  What makes it special?  Why do you like it?  How and when do you use it?  I will thank you for coloring my world with your intriguing words.  Your words can make a difference.

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