You Think English is Easy?
Can you read these right the first time?
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, no ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wiseguy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
You lovers of the English language might enjoy this:
There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and it is UP.
It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?
We call UP our friends. And we brighten UP a room and polish UP the silver. We warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP old cars. At other times, the little word has a real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special .
And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning, but we close it UP at night.
We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP can be used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP.
When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP.
When it doesn't rain for a while, things dry UP.
One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP.
For now, my time is ......UP.
Time to shut UP.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The importance of finding our "right fit" work
I talked with a young woman today who is in a job she really doesn't like. Her problem is that she doesn't really know what she wants to do. So we are exploring those activities she does enjoy, to delineate their attributes. Those attributes will be the very same attributes of a job she will like and even love.
Right now, she's taking an art class that is the highlight of her week. We identified the reasons she loves it: she is seeing herself grow and develop more skill, she really likes the teacher who promotes a positive learning environment, she enjoys watching her classmates progress and express their personalities, and there is a finished product at the end of it - a specific art piece.
When we compared that to her current work environment, we saw that it is the COMPLETE OPPOSITE of what she likes and thrives in. No one works together, she’s essentially alone working on her computer, she's not really learning or developing herself - nor is anyone else seeking to develop or mentor her - and there is no finished product at the end of the day.
Until now, she’s been trying to make herself good at something she doesn’t like, instead of finding what she likes and then going toward it. It's as if she's a square peg trying to fit into a round hole - no matter how much she tries to shave off those square edges, she resists it. She thinks she's supposed to adapt herself to this environment because this is the job she's in.
The truth is she really doesn’t want to shave off any more of herself or adapt to work that is profoundly dissatisfying. What she really wants to do now is get more understanding of what she does like and go toward that in her work life.
Yes, we have to adapt ourselves to the world as it is, for it's more pleasant to accept life on life's terms instead of constantly fighting things I cannot change. This is far different from passively accepting our position in life. If we are unhappy in work, it's possible to change that. It's possible to find work that really makes us happy, that uses our talents and abilities, that allows us to feel and express love and satisfaction.
Our "right fit" work is the place where we love what we do and do what we love, and are more in harmony with the world around us. We feel rewarded and we are able to give to the world from our strengths and passion.
I look forward to continuing the journey with this young woman and to sharing it here.
Right now, she's taking an art class that is the highlight of her week. We identified the reasons she loves it: she is seeing herself grow and develop more skill, she really likes the teacher who promotes a positive learning environment, she enjoys watching her classmates progress and express their personalities, and there is a finished product at the end of it - a specific art piece.
When we compared that to her current work environment, we saw that it is the COMPLETE OPPOSITE of what she likes and thrives in. No one works together, she’s essentially alone working on her computer, she's not really learning or developing herself - nor is anyone else seeking to develop or mentor her - and there is no finished product at the end of the day.
Until now, she’s been trying to make herself good at something she doesn’t like, instead of finding what she likes and then going toward it. It's as if she's a square peg trying to fit into a round hole - no matter how much she tries to shave off those square edges, she resists it. She thinks she's supposed to adapt herself to this environment because this is the job she's in.
The truth is she really doesn’t want to shave off any more of herself or adapt to work that is profoundly dissatisfying. What she really wants to do now is get more understanding of what she does like and go toward that in her work life.
Yes, we have to adapt ourselves to the world as it is, for it's more pleasant to accept life on life's terms instead of constantly fighting things I cannot change. This is far different from passively accepting our position in life. If we are unhappy in work, it's possible to change that. It's possible to find work that really makes us happy, that uses our talents and abilities, that allows us to feel and express love and satisfaction.
Our "right fit" work is the place where we love what we do and do what we love, and are more in harmony with the world around us. We feel rewarded and we are able to give to the world from our strengths and passion.
I look forward to continuing the journey with this young woman and to sharing it here.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Barefoot Executive
Carrie Wilkerson works from home in her bare feet - helping other women do the same thing. On her amazing web site, there is great free information as well as fee-based programs.
Because I am at home most of the time now, I decided to find out what I could possibly do working at home and using the Internet. The Barefoot Executive was one of the sites I happened across and then stuck with after getting a taste of it.
I started out reading all the free stuff and ended up paying to get access to the webinars and phone calls Carrie does with people throughout the globe who are running successful businesses from home. Most of the guests have a really strong web presence, so there is plenty of information about how to use the internet to build a business.
Most of all, there is just plain basic information about how one goes about going into business for yourself. Her focus is women, and most of her guests are women. Topics in the "Free Articles" section include: Is Earning a Living Stopping You?, Direct Sales Divas: Doing It Your Way!, Is Fear Stopping You From Pursuing Your Dream?, Ten Steps to a Financially Fabulous Future, and more from people like Vicky Collins, The Deduction Diva; Mark Semple, Support Coach; and Carrie herself.
Check it out and see if there are any tools on the site The Barefoot Executive that could help you pursue your "right fit" work and career - and grow happy as you do.
Because I am at home most of the time now, I decided to find out what I could possibly do working at home and using the Internet. The Barefoot Executive was one of the sites I happened across and then stuck with after getting a taste of it.
I started out reading all the free stuff and ended up paying to get access to the webinars and phone calls Carrie does with people throughout the globe who are running successful businesses from home. Most of the guests have a really strong web presence, so there is plenty of information about how to use the internet to build a business.
Most of all, there is just plain basic information about how one goes about going into business for yourself. Her focus is women, and most of her guests are women. Topics in the "Free Articles" section include: Is Earning a Living Stopping You?, Direct Sales Divas: Doing It Your Way!, Is Fear Stopping You From Pursuing Your Dream?, Ten Steps to a Financially Fabulous Future, and more from people like Vicky Collins, The Deduction Diva; Mark Semple, Support Coach; and Carrie herself.
Check it out and see if there are any tools on the site The Barefoot Executive that could help you pursue your "right fit" work and career - and grow happy as you do.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Chocolate
I love chocolate. Any kind. If possible, I want Belgian milk chocolate. Cote D'Or is my favorite, although Trader Joe's imports a 1+ lb. slab that is fantastic and much less expensive. In a pinch, however, I'll eat any chocolate, even that horrible CocoVia.
Chocolate does not like me, however. I gain a lot of weight fast when I eat chocolate, because I simply cannot stop eating it until it is completely gone. Now, I would like to lose weight. That means I can't eat chocolate. Simple, right?
Well, it actually is that simple. Simple does not mean easy, however. Because I love chocolate so much, I've tried many different ways to keep it in my life. I've tried eating only two or three or four pieces (see, already I can't limit myself!). If I start eating it, though, I have that taste in my mouth and I just want more of it. So despite my promises to myself, I will go and get the bag or bar and eat more.
I thought to myself, "OK, maybe it's just milk chocolate that does that to me. I know! I'll get dark chocolate. Then I won't be tempted to eat too much. And after all, dark chocolate is supposed to be good for us." Unfortunately, the last time I tried that, I found myself back to eating the entire lode in one sitting.
The wonderful thing about this time around is that I had just listened to a tape from Dr. Jonny Bowden on the Rich Life Club site. One question was from a person who had a healthy diet - lots of vegetables, fruit, poultry, fish - but when he ate a bag of M&Ms, he gained 5 pounds; why was this happening? I loved Dr. Bowden's response: why are you eating the M&Ms in the first place? If you know that you gain 5 pounds every time you eat them and don't want to gain the weight, just don't do it!
In a flash, it became so obvious that I, too, have more than enough information about my body, my reaction to chocolate, and my weight. It's my choice to apply it so I can get the results I want. If I'm unhappy with my weight, I can apply that information to lose weight - or at very least not put on more.
I know that I overeat chocolate - all chocolate - and by doing so, I gain or retain weight. If I don't want to gain weight, I can choose not to eat chocolate in any shape, size, type, form or variety. And if I do choose to eat chocolate, I can do it with my eyes wide open about the certain consequences. Denial is not an option anymore. It's completely my choice.
The bottom line for me: since I have the information, why not use it to get the results I want? And suddenly what's simple is a lot easier, too.
If you're interested in learning more about Dr. Jonny and the Rich Life Club, check out Rich Life Club. If you sign up through me, it will cost $19.95 a month rather than the normal $49.95 for direct signups.
Chocolate does not like me, however. I gain a lot of weight fast when I eat chocolate, because I simply cannot stop eating it until it is completely gone. Now, I would like to lose weight. That means I can't eat chocolate. Simple, right?
Well, it actually is that simple. Simple does not mean easy, however. Because I love chocolate so much, I've tried many different ways to keep it in my life. I've tried eating only two or three or four pieces (see, already I can't limit myself!). If I start eating it, though, I have that taste in my mouth and I just want more of it. So despite my promises to myself, I will go and get the bag or bar and eat more.
I thought to myself, "OK, maybe it's just milk chocolate that does that to me. I know! I'll get dark chocolate. Then I won't be tempted to eat too much. And after all, dark chocolate is supposed to be good for us." Unfortunately, the last time I tried that, I found myself back to eating the entire lode in one sitting.
The wonderful thing about this time around is that I had just listened to a tape from Dr. Jonny Bowden on the Rich Life Club site. One question was from a person who had a healthy diet - lots of vegetables, fruit, poultry, fish - but when he ate a bag of M&Ms, he gained 5 pounds; why was this happening? I loved Dr. Bowden's response: why are you eating the M&Ms in the first place? If you know that you gain 5 pounds every time you eat them and don't want to gain the weight, just don't do it!
In a flash, it became so obvious that I, too, have more than enough information about my body, my reaction to chocolate, and my weight. It's my choice to apply it so I can get the results I want. If I'm unhappy with my weight, I can apply that information to lose weight - or at very least not put on more.
I know that I overeat chocolate - all chocolate - and by doing so, I gain or retain weight. If I don't want to gain weight, I can choose not to eat chocolate in any shape, size, type, form or variety. And if I do choose to eat chocolate, I can do it with my eyes wide open about the certain consequences. Denial is not an option anymore. It's completely my choice.
The bottom line for me: since I have the information, why not use it to get the results I want? And suddenly what's simple is a lot easier, too.
If you're interested in learning more about Dr. Jonny and the Rich Life Club, check out Rich Life Club. If you sign up through me, it will cost $19.95 a month rather than the normal $49.95 for direct signups.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Reading e-mails
With e-mail as a dominant form of communication, some of my business relationships are now almost completely virtual. This can pose difficulties simply because I don't see the person's face or hear their voice - important ways to read someone's mood and mind. It's just words on a screen, and those can be easy to misinterpret.
So I use these guidelines when I read e-mails:
1) I assume the other person has my best interests at heart. They want the relationship to continue and prosper, too. I assume that until they actually say otherwise. This is the ONLY assumption I allow myself.
2) If I realize I'm reacting negatively to something, there's a good chance it's triggering something in me that I need to look at. Maybe I didn't do something I was supposed to do, or perhaps I had higher expectations for the person, or just maybe they didn't do what I wanted them to do. So let me re-read the e-mail to pinpoint what it is I don't like, and then think about why that is so. My goal is to bring as little of my own baggage to the table when I respond. My goal is to RESPOND instead of react.
3) If I don't like something I've read, it's possible that I don't understand the other person's words, meaning and/or motivation, and I can ask about it. And I remember "restraint of tongue and pen" as very powerful tools for maintaining good relationships. Let me find out what is really going on by asking questions instead of making assumptions.
4) If I want to know more about anything, I can ask "tell me more about that." This includes picking up the telephone to have a conversation. Asking questions is much more powerful than making assumptions!
5) I remember the saying that I actively have to take offense. While someone may say something that is possibly offensive, I don't have to take the offense that may be offered. I don't have to rise to take the bait or engage in a possible fight. And most times, the person didn't know they were being offensive, so this saying has saved me many a time from my assumptions that someone means me harm. If I don't take offense, I am doing my part to preserve a relationship that may be important for a number of other reasons.
All these tips work in face-to-face life, also.
So I use these guidelines when I read e-mails:
1) I assume the other person has my best interests at heart. They want the relationship to continue and prosper, too. I assume that until they actually say otherwise. This is the ONLY assumption I allow myself.
2) If I realize I'm reacting negatively to something, there's a good chance it's triggering something in me that I need to look at. Maybe I didn't do something I was supposed to do, or perhaps I had higher expectations for the person, or just maybe they didn't do what I wanted them to do. So let me re-read the e-mail to pinpoint what it is I don't like, and then think about why that is so. My goal is to bring as little of my own baggage to the table when I respond. My goal is to RESPOND instead of react.
3) If I don't like something I've read, it's possible that I don't understand the other person's words, meaning and/or motivation, and I can ask about it. And I remember "restraint of tongue and pen" as very powerful tools for maintaining good relationships. Let me find out what is really going on by asking questions instead of making assumptions.
4) If I want to know more about anything, I can ask "tell me more about that." This includes picking up the telephone to have a conversation. Asking questions is much more powerful than making assumptions!
5) I remember the saying that I actively have to take offense. While someone may say something that is possibly offensive, I don't have to take the offense that may be offered. I don't have to rise to take the bait or engage in a possible fight. And most times, the person didn't know they were being offensive, so this saying has saved me many a time from my assumptions that someone means me harm. If I don't take offense, I am doing my part to preserve a relationship that may be important for a number of other reasons.
All these tips work in face-to-face life, also.
Friday, March 7, 2008
my other blogs
By clicking this post's title, you'll go to my blog that addresses emotions and how I've learned to love my oh-so-human experience. I talk about hidden emotional blocks that get in my way and ways to decode my actions and attitudes to unlock those emotions and make forward progress.
Visit my profile and you'll see lists of my other blogs. Julieannerickson contains work and business solutions. Others are self-explanatory and may just be fun to read.
My blogs are testament to the power of writing as a way to discover and unlock those sneaky feelings that sometimes are so hard to identify except by noticing that I am s-t-u-c-k and/or unhappy and discontented. Those are the signs that I need to do some digging into my heart and mind to see what's lurking underneath, moving me around and directing my actions without my conscious permission or choice.
Visit my profile and you'll see lists of my other blogs. Julieannerickson contains work and business solutions. Others are self-explanatory and may just be fun to read.
My blogs are testament to the power of writing as a way to discover and unlock those sneaky feelings that sometimes are so hard to identify except by noticing that I am s-t-u-c-k and/or unhappy and discontented. Those are the signs that I need to do some digging into my heart and mind to see what's lurking underneath, moving me around and directing my actions without my conscious permission or choice.
Fabulously Successful
This site is offering a great line-up of motivational and problem-solving people for a very low price ($47 right now), along with an e-book on the Law of Attraction. The woman who founded it also provides links to some other great sites. For access, click on this link. You'll support yourself as well as the cause of women getting more active in the marketplace for personal development. If you're a woman, you can definitely learn from her! I have.
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