A friendly reminder...

By Vichara


This is just a friendly reminder – we only have so many hours that we are given in a day, try to make the most of them. We are sometimes in belief that like a game show we are given a “bonus” round or another “life” like I see in video games. We should not be mired in fear. Endeavor to explore a new adventure and appreciate the moments that are given to us. A very dear friend reminded me that “appreciating the moment is not a passive endeavor, at least for those who want to appreciate as many as possible”. Acknowledge the “ticking” but open your heart.

spelunker • \spih-LUNK-er\ • noun
: one who makes a hobby of exploring and studying caves
Example Sentence:
Our favorite B horror movie is about a group of spelunkers who discover a colony of zombies in a cavern.
Did you know?
"Spelunker" sounds like the noise a pebble makes when you drop it down a deep hole and into dark, hidden water far below. But there's nothing dark or obscure about the etymology of the term. We borrowed "spelunker" from to the bottom of things, you find that both the Latin and Greek words mean "cave." Although "spelunker" might sound neat, be careful: some cave-exploring enthusiasts prefer the term "caver."

A vicious rumor...

By Vichara


Is there any truth to the rumor? I’m sure you may have heard a little about it in passing. Someone told me that it was on the news last night just after the weather forecast. I did receive a text message from a pal in Europe that has been hearing the same thing over there as well. I know it may be hard to believe and that any such notion needs to be met with a certain amount of skepticism. I mean really, can we believe what this rumor is stating has any truth to it? I know that some would consider it just plain naïve to have such a notion and for others it would be just ridiculous. Who would have started a rumor that “Love, Patience and Compassion” are the key elements to unlocking human potential? That with these three plugged into our hearts and minds creates the possibility of positive change for all? I mean are they CRAZY!?

alimpsest • \PAL-imp-sest\ • noun
1 : writing material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased
*2 : something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface
Example Sentence:
"Canada, like any country, is a palimpsest, an overlay of classes and generations." (Margaret Atwood, New York Times Book Review, March 10, 1985)
Did you know?
In olden days, writing surfaces were so rare that they were often used more than once. "Palimpsest" originally described an early form of recycling in which an old document was erased to make room for a new one when parchment ran short. Fortunately for modern scholars, the erasing process wasn't completely effective, so the original could often be distinguished under the newer writing. De republica, by Roman statesman and orator Cicero, is one of many documents thus recovered from a palimpsest. Nowadays, the word "palimpsest" can refer not only to such a document but to anything that has multiple layers.

Great expectations...

By Vichara


I was sitting here half expecting in some strange way for the page to start writing the “thought” by itself. But then I thought isn’t that just the way we do expect things to happen all the time, don’t we? We expect the sun will rise in the morning, we expect the coffee to be good and hot, we expect people to do what is asked and required of them. We have expectations about expectations and expectations are not met more expectations of how it should go. Should we acquiesce to the way it just goes or should we dig deeper and possibly try to straighten out the road that became winding with hidden curves. Perhaps it all comes down to if we really expect our expectations to be met and resolutions to be found. What is the definition of insanity? Keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results? Perhaps it is time to find a new way with one expectation – clarity.

clement • \KLEM-unt\ • adjective
1 : inclined to be merciful : lenient
2 : mild
Example Sentence:
Alex Marsh is considered a clement judge -- the type who lets first-time offenders off the hook and gives repeat offenders the minimum required jail time.
Did you know?
Defendants in court cases probably don't spend much time worrying about inclement weather. They're too busy hoping to meet a clement judge so they will be granted clemency. They should hope they don't meet an inclement judge! "Clement," "inclement," and "clemency" all derive from the Latin "clemens," which means "mild" or "calm." All three terms can refer to an individual's degree of mercy or to the relative pleasantness of the weather.

Mental rest stops...

By Vichara


As I “sat” I looked down at the little book I write these “thoughts” in and staring back at me was this blank page. I thought – perfect! This blank page is a fresh start and a new day. In essence a whole new beginning. How could I convey this in a meager written form and even if I could would it contain enough commonalities to be understood? We are given this with each day “____________________” and we have a tendency to produce this “@#**5$&^***!^?:” by the end of each day. So how can we keep at least some of the openness that is given to us from turning into this consistent frenetic jungle of clanging noise? At this point in writing this I must admit I feel I have painted myself into a corner. But no it is not a corner but a reflection point and perhaps the answer to the question from above. If by spontaneously installing reflection points (like road-side rest stops) throughout our day perhaps there we can recharge and remind ourselves that we all have the opportunity for a fresh start at any point in the day. I’m not completely sure but…I’m looking at a blank page again.

soi-disant • \swah-dee-ZAHNG (the NG is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized)\ • adjective
: self-proclaimed, so-called
Example Sentence:
"It's one of the few soi-disant walking boots we've seen this month that you might be able to, you know, walk in." (The Times [London], March 3, 2010)
Did you know?
"Soi-disant," which in French means literally "saying oneself," is one of hundreds of French terms that entered English in the 17th and 18th centuries, during the period known as the Enlightenment. Even as political antipathies between France and England were being played out on battlefields in Europe and America, English speakers were peppering their speech and writing with French. "Soi-disant" first began appearing in English texts in 1752 as a disparaging term for someone who styles or fancies him- or herself in some role. "Crepe," "vis-a-vis," "etiquette," and "sang-froid" are a few of the other French terms that became naturalized in English at that time.

The ultimate power source...

By Vichara


You are one of the billions of un-tethered energy sources of the world. Within you is a power source that is immeasurable and renewable that can change the physical world around you. While yes this energy can do harm it is at it’s best and most effective when it is connected and unified with others to do well. There will be times when you think the amperage that is present within you is too low to be any good to anything or anyone. This is where your limitations are misguided. Every energy inch of what you embody is extremely powerful. Do not discount that. You have the complete ability to increase this internal energy at any given moment by the switch of love & compassion. This is the A/C and D/C of existence. Power up and use this and the world around you will be brighter and better. Not solar powered but soul powered.


spilth • \SPILTH\ • noun
1 : the act or an instance of spilling
2 *a : something spilled b : refuse, rubbish
Example Sentence:
"A spilth of water fell from the bird as it climbed through the hot air to clear the lakeside trees, and a drop of lake water clung for a moment to the leaf of an ilex." (Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan)
Did you know?
"Spilth" is formed from the verb "spill" and the noun suffix "-th." This suffix comes to us from Old English and is used to indicate an act or process (as in "spilth" or the more familiar "growth") or a state or condition (as in "breadth" or "length"). The earliest known use of "spilth" is in Shakespeare's Timon of Athens (c. 1607-08): "When our vaults have wept / With drunken spilth of wine…." In the senses of an act of spilling or of something spilled, English speakers today are much more likely to use the noun "spill" or sometimes "spillage," a word which, like "spilth," combines the verb "spill" with a suffix ("-age," this time borrowed from Old French) that can indicate an act or process.

Setting the intent...

By Vichara


Depending on when you read this “thought” your day may have either just started or maybe drawing to a close. If the curtain of the day has just been pulled back you have an opportunity to set your course with the right intent. Now here at this point many of us may get overwhelmed in the list we may mentally create. We may get all excited and the laundry list of actions we may want to follow backs us into a corner of inactivity. Stop! Before this happens breathe and focus on maybe just one for the day. Temper your persistence with patience. Be more open to things difficult to understand. Just something that can act as one guidepost in your journey. Something that will make the day more substantive rather than vacuous. And for those reading this at the end of the day, set your sails with honest reflection on what you can do tomorrow. Either way guide your intent with compassion.

collogue • \kuh-LOHG\ • verb
1 : intrigue, conspire
2 : to talk privately : confer
Example Sentence:
"If there was noise, as there often was even at dawn -- a huddle of men colloguing, a woman deliriously chanting the Mysteries -- his arrival would cause much of it to die." (Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea)
Did you know?
"Collogue" has been with us since the 17th century, but beyond that little is known about its origin. In Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary, he defined "collogue" as "to wheedle, to flatter; to please with kind words." The "intrigue or conspire" meaning of "collogue" was also common in Johnson's day, but Johnson missed it; his oversight suggests that sense of the word was probably part of a dialect unfamiliar to him. The earliest known use of the "confer" sense of the word is found in an 1811 letter by Sir Walter Scott: "We shall meet and collogue upon it."

The cognizant level...

By Vichara


Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, and breathe out. An act that we do everyday that we generally don’t think of too much. With every in and out our bodies bringing the life force in and releasing what is not necessary out. Such a simple and yet complicated act and yet we hardly notice it. This essential and primary act and it is just assumed that it will happen. What this “thought” today is just simply asking is to raise the cognizant level from wherever you are to just up to the next level, that’s all. It may mean you will need to stop running around for a few minutes and pay attention to things but it will be worth your while. I’m not suggesting that you sustain this level all day (only if you want to), just 5 minutes perhaps. Raising this level will open up the opportunity to “see” and “feel” that may have not been apparent before. It will be worth it. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, and breathe out.

alacrity • \uh-LAK-ruh-tee\ • noun
: promptness in response : cheerful readiness
Example Sentence:
"The good-humoured little attorney tapped at Mr. Pickwick's door, which was opened with great alacrity by Sam Weller." (Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers)
Did you know?
"I have not that alacrity of spirit / Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have," says Shakespeare’s King Richard III in the play that bears his name. When Shakespeare penned those words some 400 years ago, "alacrity" was less than a hundred years old. Our English word derives from the Latin word "alacer," which means "lively." It denotes physical quickness coupled with eagerness or enthusiasm. Are there any other words in English from Latin "alacer"? Yes -- "allegro," which is used as a direction in music with the meaning "at a brisk lively tempo.” It came to us via Italian (where it can mean "merry") and is assumed to be ultimately from "alacer."

Our contract...

By Vichara


You may not know this but when we were born we all signed a contract. We signed it audibly with that first cry. I know, I know you are saying it can’t be valid because some doctor slapped you into doing it and so it was coerced. You would have done it anyway even without a little coaxing. We all needed to announce our arrival into this world. With this announcement comes acceptance of the responsibility we all assume when we enter this world. First the world is relatively easy on the terms and us. We merely sleep, eat, gurgle and defecate. But as time goes by and we start to “see’ things and recognizing challenges and opportunities the contract become a little more evident. There will be some clauses in our contract that may take years to fulfill and there will be tears and laughter to balance the terms. In the end what could be the toughest or the easiest overall term, depending on the spirit of your will be this; regardless of how the world is presented to you treat each moment with love, patience and compassion.

hawthorn • \HAW-thorn\ • noun
: any of a genus (Crataegus) of spring-flowering spiny shrubs or small trees of the rose family with glossy and often lobed leaves, white or pink fragrant flowers, and small red fruits
Example Sentence:
Susan said that for her, one of the signs that spring had truly arrived was the flowering of the hawthorn.
Did you know?
A hawthorn is a thorny shrub or tree which can be planted into a hedge, and this fact provides a hint about the origins of the plant's name. The word "hawthorn" traces back to the Old English word "hagathorn," a combination of "haga" ("hedge") and "thorn" (same meaning as the modern "thorn" or "thornbush"). "Haga" was also used in Old English for the hawthorn itself, but by the 12th century the "thorn" had been added to its name.

The minefield of doubt...

By Vichara


When you are walking into a minefield of doubt you have two choices. Let this delusion guide your hands and heart so you only move incrementally or dismantle each mine using careful honesty with yourself to clear the path, free yourself and move forward. Some of these mines will be small and when seen for what they are can be removed with ease. Others will probably take great courage to find the mechanism and the right colored wire to cut. Without a doubt each one of us does have the tools and ability to accomplish this task. If we don’t we may need to ask for assistance. Ahhh, but you are saying to yourself “how can I be sure and trust the assistance, I have doubt”. A valid question but (and you knew there was going to be a “but”) when there is honest intent to dismantle these mines and if there is a need for assistance the honest mechanics will show up to help. However, regardless of the assistance you receive it is you that will need to snip the final wire of doubt for each mine that lies before you.

tousle • \TOW-zul\ • verb
: dishevel, rumple
Example Sentence:
Vic stood in front of the mirror and tousled his hair, trying to master the cool, disheveled look.
Did you know?
"Tousle" is a word that has been through what linguists call a "functional shift." That's a fancy way of saying it was originally one part of speech, then gradually came to have an additional function. "Tousle" started out as a verb back in the 15th century. By the late 19th century, "tousle" was also being used as a noun meaning "a tangled mass (as of hair)." Etymologists connect the word to an Old High German word meaning "to pull to pieces."

The world we create...

By Vichara


We have created a world where indifference is a comfort for the ever-present fear that we hold on to. Within this world we create worlds of sound and glass. Through iPods we create a musical world where rhythm and words sonically dress the world we wish for. Behind the glass we drive we try to hide behind and yet still see the world like some goldfish peeping out into a world that we barely exist in. We are at many times uncomfortable with the world we find ourselves in and seek whatever refuge we can. What is it about this world that we dislike? It is not the world we created in “entertainment”. Solutions are not found in 44 minutes; the smiles are never that white and cleaning up is never that easy. The orchestral strings are never heard at the significant moments to let us know that victory is at hand and because of this we start creating our own worlds. These are only temporal curtains that will be shredded when we engage the world with honesty and reality. There is much more magic than mania out there, trust more in yourself.

frowsy • \FROW-zee\ • adjective
1 : musty, stale
*2 : having a slovenly or uncared-for appearance
Example Sentence:
"Just a little effort and elbow grease applied to a frowsy courtyard, patio or side yard will reap rewards year round." (Elizabeth Bettendorf, St. Petersburg Times [Florida], April 6, 2007)
Did you know?
The exact origins of this approximately 330-year-old word may be lost in some frowsy, old book somewhere, but some etymologists have speculated that "frowsy" (also spelled "frowzy") shares a common ancestor with the younger, chiefly British word "frowsty," a synonym of "frowsy" in both its senses. That ancestor could be the Old French word "frouste," meaning "ruinous" or "decayed," or the now mostly obsolete English word "frough" or "frow," meaning "brittle" or "fragile." The English dramatist Thomas Otway is the first person (as far as we know) to have used "frowsy" in print. In his comedy "The Souldier's Fortune," published in 1681, the character Beau refers to another character as "a frouzy Fellmonger."

Our snow globe world...

By Vichara


As I looked up and out the windows where I “sit” the stars were still visible and in the last throws of twinkling before the sun takes away their splendor. But as they hung there it reminded me of the sparkles contained in one of those novelty snow globes you get from tourist shops. Some of these globes depict scenes that will be covered with a blanket of falling snowflakes and then others with tiny sparkles that seem so magical. As a child (and sometimes as an adult) you repeatedly shake the globe to see a new set of sparkles cascade down and create new scenes on these tiny landscapes. Although a physical impossibility we should try to shake our own personal snow globes each morning. Create a new scene, a fresh start at the beginning of each day. Give yourselves a new outlook free from the stagnation of yesterday and blanketed by the crystal sparkle of a new day.

cap-a-pie • \kap-uh-PEE\ • adverb
: from head to foot
Example Sentence:
Katie’s maid of honor, dressed cap-a-pie in purple satin, hurried up the walkway toward the church.
Did you know?
Think of a medieval knight riding off to battle completely encased (from head to foot, as it were) in armor. Knights thus outfitted were said to be "armed cap-a-pie." The term "cap-a-pie," which has been used in English since at least the 16th century, descends from the Middle French phrase "de cap a pe," meaning "from head to foot." Nowadays, it is generally extended to more figurative armor, as in "armed cap-a-pie against criticism." "Cap-a-pie" has also been credited with parenting another English phrase. Some people think the expression "apple-pie order," meaning "perfect order," may have originated as a corruption of "cap-a-pie order." The evidence for that theory is far from orderly, however, and it must be regarded as speculative.

Be the fire...

By Vichara


“Be the fire”. This is what a friend suggested to me yesterday. I know that she was not suggesting to burn things or irritate others but to be engulfed in the passionate fire of life. How many of us can say that we get consumed in the flames of beliefs, causes or even our recreational excursions as we live each day? Realistically most of our time is dedicated to making a living and paying the bills for things we believe we need or can’t live without. Obviously there are the sustaining items that we need to get by like food and shelter. But can we still ignite and retain a fire beyond all of that? Here is the key; this fire does not necessarily need to be saving the planet for any of the various troubled causes, although that would be fine. I am thinking of igniting the passionate flame for even the smaller things like teaching a child about the amazing world of literature, creating a bountiful garden to share or creating something artistic to make you smile deep inside. Even at the smaller scale this fire can be as grand as any world cause but it will be your own heart sustaining it.

scour • \SKOW-er\ • verb
1 : to move about quickly especially in search
*2 : to go through or range over in or as if in a search
Example Sentence:
"Then came the excitement of trying to locate the fallen quail, and now the dog became a major partner, for he scoured the terrain this way and that.…" (James Michener, Texas, 1985)
Did you know?
There are two verbs "scour" in English. One means to clean something by rubbing it hard with a rough object; that sense, from the 14th century, probably derives via Middle Dutch and Old French from a Late Latin verb meaning "to clean off." Today’s "scour," however, dates from the 13th century and is believed to derive via Middle English from Old Norse "skūr," meaning "shower" (it also shares a distant relationship with our word "shower"). Many disparate things can be scoured. For example, one can scour an area (as in "scoured the woods in search of the lost dog") or publications (as in "scouring magazine and newspaper articles").

Reach...

By Vichara


It is always good to have your reach exceed your grasp. I have been thinking a lot about reaching and grabbing as I have been recovering from hand surgery in the last week. By having limited use of one hand and pretty much relying on one hand I have been reminded daily of the limitations as a result of this medical adventure. But of course, because my brain thinks this way, I begin to think of certain limitations we put on ourselves all the time. We are living in a time of even greater resources than our parents had. If there is something we need to learn, know or try to understand we are basically only a few mouse clicks away from finding out. It is what we do with it after we have this information is of course the key. Sometimes it will be fear that will keep us from moving forward but do realize that for the great majority of things you yourself have the key to reach even farther than yesterday. You do have the ability to exceed your grasp. Trust in yourself more and this adventure we have all have been given.

vulnerable • \VUL-nuh-ruh-bul\ • adjective
1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
*2 : open to attack or damage : assailable
Example Sentence:
James made sure to install the latest antivirus software on his computer so it would not be vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Did you know?
"Vulnerable" is ultimately derived from the Latin noun "vulnus" ("wound"). "Vulnus" led to the Latin verb "vulnerare," meaning "to wound," and then to the Late Latin adjective "vulnerabilis," which became "vulnerable" in English in the early 1600s. "Vulnerable" originally meant "capable of being physically wounded" or "having the power to wound" (the latter is now obsolete), but since the late 1600s, it has also been used figuratively to suggest a defenselessness against non-physical attacks. In other words, someone (or something) can be vulnerable to criticism or failure as well as to literal wounding. When it is used figuratively, "vulnerable" is often followed by the preposition "to."

Pool of life...

By Vichara


Get out of the shallow end of the pool of life. Swimming with little values could be hazardous to your well-being. The flamingos of fashion and excess may look attractive but as they say (and you know it by now), all that glitters is not gold. Beware of he sharks of ill intent. While they may not physically gnaw at your flesh their insidious behavior will place doubt in your mind with devious results. And while being in “school” be comforting their collective mentality will eventually rob you of your individuality. Where to swim? How to swim? Who to swim with? I think we all have no choice but to swim right in the middle of all of them. In the middle and around them with our fishy scales infused with a sense of purpose and equanimity.

frog-march • \FROG-march\ • verb
: to seize from behind roughly and forcefully propel forward
Example Sentence:
When the patron became loud and belligerent, a hulking bouncer swiftly pinned him in a half nelson and frog-marched him out the door.
Did you know?
There are a couple variations of the "frog's march" used to carry off an unruly person. The first involves carrying the person face downward by the arms and legs; when this is done by four people each holding a limb, the person's body resembles a stretched out frog. In another version the person is carried off by his collar and the seat of his pants, again giving the image of a frog but this time with limbs uselessly flailing about. These ways of moving a person gave us the verb "frog-march" in the late 19th century. The verb was also extended to cover more general, less frog-like, methods of removal, such as forcing the intractable individual forward with arms held in back or at the sides.

In one moment...

By Vichara


Yesterday there was a car crash right in front of my house. I didn’t see it; I just heard the screech of the tires and the thud of metal hitting metal. By the time I got outside Act 2 of this drama was unfolding. The woman in the pickup was outside her vehicle and checking the condition on the second woman in the smaller vehicle. They were talking, moving around and cell phones were engaged as the lines of traffic behind this engagement of metal begin to play out. I looked once again at the woman still inside her car with an expression of both distress and resignation. One-moment things are fine and then your whole day changes. Events and circumstances gather creating demarcation points. Think of similar events like these that have happened to you. The question you may ask is have you used “changes” as a catalyst to move forward with reflection or halted mired with doubt. It is your choice once these tools have been given to you.

bravado • \bruh-VAH-doh\ • noun
1 a : blustering swaggering conduct b : a pretense of bravery
2 : the quality or state of being foolhardy
Example Sentence:
The kayakers attempted the rapids out of sheer bravado, and capsized as a result; fortunately, they escaped with only some mild bruises and scrapes.
Did you know?
"Bravado" ultimately traces to the Old Italian adjective "bravo," meaning "courageous" or "wild." Nowadays, the wildness once associated with "bravado" has been tamed to an overbearing boldness that comes from arrogance or a position of power. Celebrities, political or corporate giants, and the schoolyard bully may all show "bravado" (though they often turn out to be not so tough after all). "Bravado" is also used for show-offish, daring acts that seem reckless and inconsistent with good sense, but might, nonetheless, be applauded with shouts of "Bravo!" when successful. The spectacular feats of stuntmen come to mind, for example.

I want it NOW!...

By Vichara


I want it and I want it now! Honk! Honk! Move! Honk! I can’t wait for this! How much longer can this take? Patience has gone from being a virtue to a luxury. It has become something that is squeezed in between that latte and a left-turn in a busy intersection. In the daily tableau of activity things have become just a click away. Micro waved in 30 seconds in a world with 800 channels with no time for a break. We have been convinced that this need for speed is now a requirement of our lives. Waiting has become so “old school” that you would be embarrassed to wait for anything. Behave, believe or invest into this mind set if you wish all that clicking will only give you a fleeting apparition of what you want to know. To really “see”, “hear” and “feel” you need to slow down. Anything that requires you to experience it that quickly is not worth it and lacks substance.

waif • \WAYF\ • noun
1 a : a piece of property found (as washed up by the sea) but unclaimed b plural : stolen goods thrown away by a thief in flight
2 a : something found without an owner and especially by chance * b : a stray person or animal; especially : a homeless child
Example Sentence:
The book is about a charming 10-year-old waif who embarks on a series of adventures with a scruffy canine sidekick.
Did you know?
Today's "waif" came from Anglo-French "waif," meaning "stray" or "unclaimed," and, further back, probably from a Scandinavian ancestor. It entered English in the 14th century and was followed approximately a century later by another "waif," this one meaning "a pennant or flag used to signal or to show wind direction," which English speakers derived independently, possibly from the same Scandinavian word. In its earliest uses, today's word referred to a piece of unclaimed property. It eventually developed other extended meanings before acquiring the "stray person or animal" sense. The skinny appearance typical of waifs resulted in the word being applied to people with skinny body types, beginning in the 1980s, though this sense hasn't yet found a home on the pages of our dictionaries.

Mirror of reason...

By Vichara


The mirror of reason reflects back direction. It does not want to hear excuses. There will be no “mirror, mirror on the wall” when you reflect through this, there will only be truth and clarity. We do have a choice however. If you wish to reflect into the muddy waters of delusion and not seek clarity in your path, that is up to you. All of the answers, all of the paths and all of the direction are anticipating your arrival. You need to do nothing but show up with a willing mind and heart to take the steps forward. Again if you do wish to sit and remain where you are that is up to you. There is no competition in moving forward. You, your heart and your mind set the demarcation point. The journey begins with you.

inkling • \INK-ling\ • noun
1 : a slight indication or suggestion : hint, clue
*2 : a slight knowledge or vague notion
Example Sentence:
"She gained some inkling of the character of Hanson's life when, half asleep, she looked out into the dining-room at six o'clock and saw him silently finishing his breakfast." (Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie)
Did you know?
Originating in English in the early 16th century, "inkling" derives from Middle English "yngkiling," meaning "whisper or mention," and perhaps further from the verb "inclen," meaning "to hint at." It also shares a distant relationship with the Old English noun "inca," meaning "suspicion." An early sense of the word meant "a faint perceptible sound or undertone" or "rumor," but now people usually use the word to refer to a tiny bit of knowledge or information that a person receives about something. One related word you might not have heard of is the verb "inkle," a back-formation of "inkling" that occurs in some British English dialects and means "to have an idea or notion of."

Our body, our machine...

By Vichara


Our body is a time machine created for a single journey. We see the events of history, the joys of life, the tragic and the beauty all from these ocular cells placed strategically in this organic collection of cells, blood an bones. When this machine is new it is awkward and not easy to manipulate. With no written users manual to guide us how to use this machine we sometimes will have system errors and will damage some of the moving parts. A re-boot or rest will rectify things to its almost original order. The on-board memory system is truly a remarkable piece of this machine. It somehow has built-in remnants of historical data that can moralistically guide this machine through sets of problems and circumstances and increase the wisdom of its guidance components. Studies and historical data do tell us that we need to use these machines wisely. We must pay attention how we utilize this machine and use the upgrades of Love, Patience and Compassion to its full functionality. This machine runs better with these and complies with all necessary state and universal regulations.

eloquent • \EL-uh-kwunt\ • adjective
1 : marked by forceful and fluent expression
2 : vividly or movingly expressive or revealing
Example Sentence:
Because Max is such an eloquent speaker, he was asked to give the toast at his grandfather's 75th birthday party.
Did you know?
Since "eloquent" can have to do with speaking, it makes sense that it comes from the Latin verb "loqui," which means "to speak." "Loqui" is the parent of many "talkative" offspring in English. "Loquacious," which means "given to fluent or excessive talk," also arose from "loqui." Another "loqui" relative is "circumlocution," a word that means someone is talking around a subject to avoid making a direct statement ("circum-" means "around"). And a "ventriloquist" is someone who makes his or her voice sound like it’s coming from another source.

The world...

By Vichara


While you think the world is going on out there, the world is going on in you as well. You are an integral part of the machinations of this world no matter how small it may be perceived. You are important and you do matter even if you don’t think so.

tantalize • \TAN-tuh-lyze\ • verb
: to tease or torment by or as if by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach
Example Sentence:
The older brother mercilessly tantalized the younger one, repeatedly holding out the ball to him only to snatch it back at the last second.
Did you know?
Pity poor King Tantalus of Phrygia. The mythic monarch offended the ancient Greek gods. As punishment, he was plunged up to his chin in water in Hades, where he had to stand beneath overhanging boughs of a tree heavily laden with ripe, juicy fruit. But though he was always hungry and thirsty, Tantalus could neither drink the water nor eat the fruit. Anytime he reached for them, they would retreat from him. Our word "tantalize" is taken from the name of the eternally tormented king.

Doubt...

By Vichara


Without doubt there would be no measurement to gauge success. With doubt you question the distance you have travelled, the knowledge you have gained and the friendship forged along this journey. Doubt is a useful tool as long as it doesn’t get in the way and becomes one of the only tools that you use. I have seen many individuals that have become so mired in doubt that even when they are showed love they confuse it with manipulation. I know for many of us the bridge of trust we thought was sturdy is perceived to become rickety and frail. The path that was once clear seems to be strewn with barriers. These are all times when doubt has tipped that balance. The bridge is fine, the path is ok we just need to keep doubt as a tool not a hindrance. But don’t just believe me trust in yourself. I have no doubt you can do that.

sward • \SWORD\ • noun
1 : a portion of ground covered with grass
2 : the grassy surface of land
Example Sentence:
"Students in flip-flops slap lazily across the green swards of campuses as bell music peals from the campaniles." (Sally Jenkins, The Washington Post, August 31, 2005)
Did you know?
"Sward," which sprouted up in the English language more than 500 years ago, is currently used more frequently as a surname than as a noun having to do with lawns and the like. Still, you'll find the occasional reference to a "green sward" or "grassy sward" in newspapers. And the term pops up in a number of old novels, such as in this quote from Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles: "The sun was so near the ground, and the sward so flat, that the shadows of Clare and Tess would stretch a quarter of a mile ahead of them...." "Sward" at one time referred to skin or rind, and especially to the rind of pork or bacon, although this meaning is now archaic. The word comes from the Old English "sweard" or "swearth," meaning "skin" or "rind."

Being good on Good Friday?...

By Vichara


As we walk through the misty corridors of time and we contemplate the ideals, dreams and discoveries of others let us be cognizant. Let us tread carefully amongst the souls that have seen and understood the mysteries and…ok stop - enough with the flowery language! Hey since today is called Good Friday why don’t we be good to each other? Turn the “good” up an extra notch and remember how lucky the majority of us all are. Don’t think of being good to each other as being all “Pollyanna” like but try it as a natural organic expression without expectations. Try being good on Good Friday. Ahhhh, you know what, just forget about it…maybe just maybe we give it a try everyday? Wait a minute that would be crazy right? Being good to each other everyday? Hmmmm.

ruthless • \ROOTH-lus\ • adjective
: having no pity : merciless, cruel
Example Sentence:
Even the most sociable and gentle of house cats remain, at heart, ruthless predators.
Did you know?
"Ruthless" can be defined as "without ruth" or "having no ruth." So what, then, is ruth? The noun "ruth," which is now considerably less common than "ruthless," means "compassion for the misery of another," "sorrow for one's own faults," or "remorse." And, just as it is possible for one to be without ruth, it is also possible to be full of ruth. The antonym of "ruthless" is "ruthful," meaning "full of ruth" or "tender." "Ruthful" can also mean "full of sorrow" or "causing sorrow." "Ruth" can be traced back to the Middle English noun "ruthe," itself from "ruen," meaning "to rue" or "to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow.

River of possibilities...

By Vichara


We are the river were possibilities could flow but we continue to build dams of doubt. Our expert ability to create diversions and fear can keep us just an arm’s length away and in most cases can be changed by one thing – a change in perception. If we believe we cannot accomplish a task or a dream we all live in regret. I know this thought is not something new, we all know this but it is a very good reminder. Sometimes we just need to get out of our own way in order to realize something. That is not to say there will be a certain degree of difficulty and work to be done or not. It is when you remove the obstacle of your self you can grasp the steps needed to move forward. You may not be able to do everything but at least stepping up on a clear vista of opportunity you can walk away knowing that you were not the hindrance in your own river.

puerile • \PYUR-ul\ • adjective
1 : juvenile
2 : childish, silly
Example Sentence:
Though Laura enjoys a good practical joke, she finds some of the gags pulled by her co-workers on April Fool’s Day to be merely puerile.
Did you know?
"Puerile" may call to mind qualities of youth and immaturity, but the term itself is no spring chicken. On the contrary, it's been around for more than three centuries, and its predecessors in French and Latin, the adjectives "puéril" and "puerilis," respectively, are far older. Those two terms have the same basic meaning as the English word "puerile," and they both trace to the Latin noun "puer," meaning "boy" or "child." Nowadays, "puerile" can describe the acts or utterances of an actual child, but it more often refers (usually with marked disapproval) to occurrences of childishness where adult maturity would be expected or preferred