The Daily Word

for February 7, 2021

by Gwyn English Nielsen

enlighten - verb - to give greater knowledge

Inside “enlighten” is the word “light.” When I think of “light,” or “to light,” to illuminate and brighten come to mind. At this very moment, I am gazing out of my window, mesmerized by the white light of snowflakes, like a brilliant storm of confetti, scurrying, dancing through the air. Nature can be enlightening because it provokes curiosity, which is the impetus to higher knowledge. True enlightenment comes when the light of reason begins to burn within the mind of the individual. 

Yet enlightenment also embraces understanding, the knowledge that one has limited control over the universe. On this Super Bowl Sunday, I am reminded of my limitations and realize that there is wisdom (enlightenment) in simple words, such as “Let Go and Let God.” No matter what you believe spiritually, believe that there is love from a greater source, a greater good. Trust that this path that we travel will lead us to a positive end. 

#inspirationalthoughts, #inspiration, #inspirationalwords, #wordsofwisdom, #affirmation, #optimism, #poetsandwriters, #writerscommunity, #writers, #readers 

The Daily Word

for February 5, 2021

by Gwyn English Nielsen

bliss - noun - complete and utter happiness

It used to be that bliss was associated with marriage albeit since divorce statistics tend to be staggering, the headiness of romantic union can now be proven to be confined to the wedding reception. Sorry for the cynicism, but divorce can do that to a person. 

Years ago when I was internet dating, I met a New York musician who appeared to be fixated on the word "bliss." I recall that he kept telling me that he was looking for bliss with a romantic partner and that he was willing to work toward achieving a euphoric consciousness that was blissful with this illusory person, whom he intended to meet online. Apparently, I was not that person as after two rather blissful dates, he dropped me flat, using the excuse that we would have probably broken up anyway somewhere down the line. It was the perfect cue for "Iris," the GooGoo Dolls hit that features the truism "everything is meant to be broken." 

All cynicism and realism aside, I, as the consummate optimist, do believe that bliss is possible. But it is not something that can be forced. In other words, bliss should never be connected with work since the two are fundamentally opposites. It should come naturally. It should grow up and out of the individual. Of course, external events can motivate bliss, but true bliss, like true love, is never superficial. 

Have a blissful Saturday!

#inspirationalthoughts, #inspiration, #inspirationalwords, #wordsofwisdom, #affirmation, #optimism, #poetsandwriters, #writerscommunity, #writers, #readers 

The Daily Word

for February 5, 2021

by Gwyn English Nielsen

transmogrify - verb - to segue vastly from one state of being to another

In the interim between book club selections, I am reading Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, a brief yet profound fairy tale as intellectuals have chosen to interpret it on several levels. Years ago, when my command of the language was more proficient, I read the first few pages in German, found it a bit too bizarre and picked up Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle instead. I am, at present, enjoying Kafka's work especially since it can be considered an opportune allegory. In case you have never read The Metamorphosis, the protagonist, Gregor inexplicably transmogrifies from an eager-to-please salesman into a caterpillar overnight, leaving his parents, sister, maid, and boss in a state of horror and stupefaction at his unlikely evolution. 

Kafka's story, written in the early 1900s before the Spanish flu, has contemporary relevance: Like Gregor's transfiguration, the entire pandemic has been transformative as it has changed the way we live our lives overnight. But also like Gregor, the caterpillar, who is able to muster tenacity, adjusting to his new body and even delighting in some of his new abilities, such as crawling upside down on the ceiling, we have made concessions, and some of us have not given up the struggle to latch on to a degree of normalcy. We, Gregor included, have refused to be vanquished because we are human and insist on self-preservation. However, unlike Gregor who has not gotten to this point quite yet, we are learning that the preservation of others' lives is just as important. 

I'll leave you with words to the wise: Transmogrify your attitude if it needs conversion. 

Enjoy the weekend!

#inspirationalthoughts, #inspiration, #inspirationalwords, #wordsofwisdom, #affirmation, #optimism, #poetsandwriters, #writerscommunity, #writers, #readers 

 

The Daily Word

for February 4, 2021

by Gwyn English Nielsen

undaunted - adjective - without fear

Fear is responsible for many of our problems. As FDR once pronounced, it itself should be our only fear. And there is so much to be fearful of in the present tense. I don’t have to remind anyone of the particulars. That being noted, optimism is the antidote to fear as it instills hope in the heart, assuaging the anxiety and filling the bearer with solace. 

Here’s something you may carry around with you today and everyday: Optimism stands undaunted in the face of fear. 

#inspirationalwords. #inspiration. #affirmation. #words. #vocabulary #poets. #writers. #readers.

The Daily Word

for February 3, 2021

by Gwyn English Nielsen

waft - verb - to pass easily as if through the air

If one is truly optimist, he or she has the ability to waft through even the most difficult situations since he or she cannot be anchored in negativity. It is as though the individual is indomitable, incapable of being vanquished. If thought of like this, optimism is elevated to the position of a super power, something all superheroes should possess. 

Try optimism on for size and start wafting through your problems!

#inspiration #word-power #vocabulary #writers #readers 

The Daily Word 

for February 2, 2021

by Gwyn English Nielsen

manna - noun - food from God

Years ago, I read a poem written by a luminous poet. In it, manna was used metaphorically to refer to snow. As I was shoveling the twenty inches that has fallen since Sunday here in New Jersey, I couldn’t help but recall the reference along with a more literal image of the distant past: one of me eating snow as a child. Although I wouldn’t brave it today, the metaphor is certainly apt. Snow, pure and white, is a natural wonder and is probably the closest thing we have to manna. 

Just something small to smile about today. 

#inspiration. #words. #poets. #writers. #readers. #vocabulary 

 

 

The Daily Word for February 1, 2021

forgiveness - n. - ability to walk away sans resentment/anger

The above definition is my own, but it has been gleaned from repeated trips to a number of denotations. As flawed humans, forgiveness is at the top of the list in terms of being difficult to dole out with a degree of finesse to the wrongdoer.  It is tough to forgive, yet still, you have to try because the weightless existence requires it. And often true love boils down to it. Now if you could only manage to forget after you forgive, then you’ve achieved human perfection, total enlightenment. It’s worth a try, isn’t it? 

#inspiration. #words. #vocabulary #writers. #poets  #readers