More than words

I've recently become aware of how capriciously we employ certain words in the English language. For reasons unknown, we don't always think through the full meaning of our words, how they affect others, the unintended consequences. And we do ourselves a disservice by such cavalier attitudes, don't we? We cheapen words that should have significance, we diminish the power of their meaning.

For example, when was the last time you really thought about the true meanings of sacrifice, eternity, love, unconditional, hope?

But instead of creating other words to make up for our belittling mouths, we're actually adding to and validating the most shallow parts of human nature. Check out some of the new additions to the Oxford Dictionary:

aerobicized -- adj. (of a person's body) toned by aerobic exercise: aerobicized Hollywood women.

bahookie -- n. Scottish a person's buttocks

celebutante -- n. a celebrity who is well known in fashionable society

crunk -- n. a type of hip-hop or rap music characterized by repeated shouted catchphrases and elements typical of electronic dance music, such as prominent bass

Not that I didn't love RIZE as much as the next person, or adore Billy Connelly any less -- but do me a favor. Put down the US Weekly/Page Six/The Sun for a bit, think about a person you truly love unconditionally, and go out and tell them so. Sure, it sounds cheesy, but hey, it never hurts to think about these things a little more often.