Vocablet of the Day: Humility

Posted on January 6, 2014 by admin

Pope Francis was elected in March of 2013, and it didn’t take long for people to realize that there was something different about him.

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Pope Francis has gone a different way from previous popes, choosing to live more simply and with the quality or state of being humble.

Pope Francis' chair, on the right, shows his humility even in his new station.

In the past, popes have lived a life of luxury that comes with the highest position in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis, demonstrating his humility, has chosen instead to keep his clothes simple and to live in the Vatican guesthouse rather than the large papal apartment.

Do you think Pope Francis’ humility makes a statement? What kind?

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Vocablet of the Day: Deferential

Posted on December 2, 2013 by admin

To show respect toward a man, you can call him “sir.” But to show the same respect to a woman, which word should you use?

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Sometimes it can be tricky to be respectful, especially when cultural norms cause mixed messages.

In the southern United States, calling a woman of any age “ma’am” is considered the polite thing to do. In other parts of the country, however, “ma’am” is reserved for older women, and “miss” is used to be deferential towards younger women. So when you’re trying to be polite to a woman of indeterminate age (outside of the American South), it’s probably a good idea to stick to “miss.”

What words do you use to be deferential to women where you live?

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Vocablet of the Day: Inevitable

Posted on November 11, 2013 by admin

How far would you go to face your fears? Would you climb into a coffin?

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Even though death is incapable of being avoided or prevented, most of us would prefer not to think about it. Some, however, take the opposite approach.

In psychological terms, it’s called immersion therapy: throw yourself into whatever scares you. If you’re afraid of spiders, let three of them crawl over your hands. If you’re afraid of flying, book a ticket across the Atlantic. And if you fear the inevitable approach of death, climb into a coffin.

Does the idea of getting into a coffin freak you out? Or do you think it might make you feel more comfortable with the fact that your own death is inevitable?

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Vocablet of the Day: Fleeting

Posted on October 14, 2013 by admin

When you see a tree in bloom, what do you think about? Springtime? Warm weather? Or the brief and ephemeral nature of life?

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Youth, beauty, springtime, even life itself — all of them lasting for a very short time in the grand scheme of the world.

Cherry blossoms are celebrated around the world for their incredible beauty during the brief period in spring when they bloom into gorgeous pink flowers. In Japan, the fact that the blossoms appear for such a fleeting amount of time adds to their beauty and meaning, reminding us that nothing in life is permanent.

Have you ever seen a group of cherry trees in bloom? What does the fleeting nature of beauty mean to you?

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Vocablet of the Day: No-frills

Posted on April 2, 2013 by admin

The behavior of the newly elected pope, Pope Francis, has caused some people to raise their eyebrows — from his recent act of including women in a ritual of foot-washing to his no-frills lifestyle.

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The newly elected pope, Pope Francis, does things a little differently than past popes. His manner is less formal, and his lifestyle has been described as offering or providing only what is necessary.

Leaving behind the elaborately decorated clothing that other popes have worn, Pope Francis chooses a more no-frills style. He has even decided to live in Vatican guesthouse instead of the papal apartments, preferring their simplicity.

I think Pope Francis’ no-frills lifestyle makes sense, reminding believers that faith and compassion are what’s important, not displays of wealth. What do you think? Is your own style more no-frills, or do you like a bit of flash and glamor?

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Vocablet of the Day: Relieve

Posted on November 29, 2012 by admin

Dogs have been called “man’s best friend.” Their loyalty, playfulness, and love can help us to relax after a busy day. But what if your furry best friend was illegal?

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The crazy modern world we live in puts a lot of pressure on people. But in China, changing laws mean a new way to end or lessen something unpleasant such as pain or tension: pet dogs.

Doggie jail? Not anymore!

Having a dog as a pet was illegal for a long time in China, but not anymore. Now, more and more people are learning that the faithful companionship of a dog can be a great way to relieve the stress and anxiety of daily life.

Do you have a pet that helps to relieve you of bad feelings? What other methods are good for relieving stress?

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Vocablet of the Day: Aversion

Posted on October 23, 2012 by admin

There are a lot of strange and delicious foods out there, and one food truck is encouraging people to take their appetites to a place they’ve never been.

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Yum!

Would you eat a bug? If you’re from a Western culture, you probably have a feeling of intense dislike even thinking about it.

But one food truck is challenging this deep-seated aversion with delicious snacks made out of, yes, bugs. Maybe this will make people question why they have an aversion to eating bugs when they can be a tasty and healthy food.

Do you think you’d eat a buggy snack? What other foods do you have an aversion toward?

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Vocablet of the Day: Convene

Posted on July 31, 2012 by admin

This year, the Olympic Games fall during the month of Ramadan, when many Muslims fast during the day. What does this mean for Muslim athletes?

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With athletes of all cultures and beliefs participating in the Olympics, the issue of Ramadan coinciding with the Games is important enough to call together a committee specifically to discuss it.

I have to wonder why the International Olympics Committee didn’t convene a council about this problem in the months before the Games began. Still, it’s good that a group was convened to talk about this important problem.

The convene-Muslim Athletes Vocablet highlights the unfortunate scheduling problem of Ramadan and the Olympics occurring at the same time, and what is being done about it.

How do you think Olympic officials should handle this? Is convening a committee enough?

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Vocablet of the Day: Oblivion

Posted on July 24, 2012 by admin

When you’re walking down the street, smartphone in hand and earbuds in your ears, how much are you aware of what’s going on around you?

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Smartphones, iPods, PDAs… all of today’s hand-held technologies are so fascinating that they can actually put us into a state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening.

It’s okay to slip into oblivion when sitting safely at home with your iPhone, but that trance-like state can be dangerous on the street. Pedestrians who fall into “iPod oblivion” might not notice sidewalk hazards, traffic, or other pedestrians, putting themselves at risk

The oblivion-iPod Danger Vocablet highlights the problem of focusing too much on technology instead of paying attention to your surroundings.

Have you ever experienced iPod oblivion? How do you think you can avoid it?

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