Word World

Thursday, June 06, 2024

An article entitled “What’s your nudge word for 2024? Let us help you discover it” caught my attention in today’s Washington Post. I was attracted to the idea of a nudge word after earlier exploring something similar and selecting a word.

The Post set up the discovering process as a game. I studied it and decided to play.

Everything starts by identifying an overarching word. The lead question is: What single word describes your hopes and dreams for 2024? The game then offers many categorical choices: active, optimistic, mindful, relationships, strength, growth, and personal relationships. I chose “mindful.”

Next, another game step was to “Focus on words that will nudge you toward positive change.” Many words related to mindfulness were offered, and I selected such as observe, awe, gratitude, notice, thankful, breathe, awareness, anticipate, and balance. Finally, I found one that summarized it all, and already that word was a favorite: appreciate.

I’ll take it. So, “appreciate” will be my nudge word for 2024.

Last month, I was thinking about “appreciate” in relation to my upcoming birthday. I wished to actively and often feel more appreciative as a change and birthday gift to myself. For several weeks, I paused and focused on appreciating but eventually got too busy and preoccupied with unrelated thoughts.

I appreciate the Post article’s cool word game which helped me renew a pleasing frame of mind. To me, appreciating touches a deep sense of gratitude and recognition, and taps into wishes to feel seen, valued, and understood. I am recommitting to actively being mindful and appreciative and staying on track this time.

Dear Friends: Words, tiny little abstracts that trigger big feelings and thoughts. Diana

Stripings

Wednesday, June 05, 2024

As a department store salesperson, I often learn helpful things. Here’s a valuable tip: Choose striped bed linens because they clearly identify the long side.

By keeping that in mind, I’ve been encouraged to think more about “stripe.” It’s a word with a real-world meaning (aside from being a pattern, as on linens). In the real world, military and police forces have stripes on a uniform that “identify clearly” rank and power.

I’m interested in how “stripe” is used as a metaphor for earned experience or rank. Describing someone as having a “stripe” suggests a distinctive quality or trait. That way, “stripe” suggests a distinction, individuality, or uniqueness that sets someone apart.

We often hear the term “stripe” used in business, sports, and academia. We understand it as referring to “earned respect and recognition” and applied to someone who’s done good work and accomplished achievements.

I’m an informal writer who writes often. I’m always word-focused because English word usage and meanings are complex. Words often suggest much more than their basic descriptions, forcing me to consider sociology in general, historically, and in the present.

Dear Friends: It does make sense to appreciate the value of using striped linens. Diana

Cheesing

Tuesday, June 04, 2024

This is National Cheese Day (really!). Later this week (get this!): June’s first Friday is National Donut Day. In exploring celebratory days, I’m finding that opportunities to appreciate are overwhelming, and it’s enough already. I’ll stop searching and yet make a shout out: Happy Cheese Day!

I wrote yesterday morning that the outside weather looked blowy and chilly. I was correct for those conditions lasted all day. My window this morning reveals similar weather behavior. For me, this is a day off from work and I’ve planned to tackle much-needed outside work. If today remains windy and cold, I’ll stay inside where plenty needs doing, too.

While inside, maybe I’ll poke into the cheese world. There’s much to explore about its cultural significance and the human passion for making it. I could learn by reading or streaming documentaries about the history of cheese, its different kinds and methods of making, and its lasting cultural significance.

Good learning can transform perceptions. Learning could turn my chuckles about National Cheese Day into awe.

Learning an appreciation of cheese on this day represents only a beginning. More ahead and scheduled annually, will arrive on October 15.

Dear Friends: The donut product also has a history and a big (bah!) cultural influence. Diana

Spring Debuts

Monday, June 02, 2024

These high early winds create my expectations for today: Hay rises in the air, and shirts take flight, it’s a windy day’s chaotic delight.

Yesterday, reading a few books about gemstones taught there are numerous gems and varieties. That discovery was daunting because soon, I will be working in Fine Jewelry sales. Perhaps my best hope going forward will be to have all the monthly birthstones memorized, at least.

My birthday is in May, and the emerald is my birthstone. I have a pretty ring featuring one, but I rarely wear it because I am not much into personal jewelry. My pending job in Fine Jewelry, however, is nudging me to alter some attitudes, and I’ll wear the ring today.

My view out a window suggests that, as I’ve been writing, this morning’s branch-bending early winds have calmed. That makes me revise my earlier prediction: In this stillness, I will find my center and savor the gentle weather.

Oops, I’m speaking too soon. Apparently, these morning winds are circling, as now my window is revealing the high-blowing again.

Dear Friends: One more hot coffee before I bundle up and head out. Diana

Moving, Grooving

Sunday, June 02, 2024

Yesterday, in a nod to our extravagant natures, Susan, a store manager, and I tried on expensive sunglasses. She’s wearing a Versace, and I’m wearing a Gucci. My Guccis didn’t alter the world’s appearance, but having them on was a kick.

I was celebrating because the store officially is transitioning me into a new role. I’ll become a part-time salesperson in Fine Jewelry. The change will follow my background check. All I have known about fine jewelry is that it’s pretty, and I enjoy wearing my own few pieces for special occasions.

I have begun reading books about gemstones which are opening a world of personal adornment to me. The experts speak about deep human desires, for beauty and self-adornment, a love of brilliant colors, and the thrill of seeing sparkling white light from a diamond—in other words, there’s a world of motivations for buying and owning gems.

It’s been so since time immemorial, but like everything else, increased scientific knowledge and technological advances have altered the buying and selling of gemstones. For eons, those processes were based on assessments at eye and gut levels. Modern technology has brought accuracy to identifying and assessing gems.

On a personal note, this new position will give me more knowledge about the retail world and teach me new, specific sales skills.

Dear Friends: My wish to work and learn that began two years ago gets more interesting. Diana

Play Ball!

Saturday, June 01, 2024

Yesterday, my friend Julie and I attended this season’s opening game. We watched the Bend Elks against the Walla Walla Sweets from seats high up in nearly full bleachers. Their game was pretty good, but we left at the top of the fifth inning because I didn’t have a warm jacket. (Here in Bend, when the sun goes down, the wind gets chilly.) I’ll go see the Elks again, next time wearing my new (official) Elks ballcap and new Elks t-shirt, and bringing an appropriate jacket.

I enjoyed seeing the game with Julie. She’s from Chicago and knows the Sox and the Cubs. She’s also a retired social worker. She observed the crowd around us, as interested in people as in the game. She pointed out relationship behaviors that showed people relaxing, bonding, and enjoying the game. In the noisy, busy stadium environment, her observations of family-like pleasantries spoke to the “human values side” of baseball.

About sociology and human values, yesterday, the department store where I work part-time said farewell to our manager, Lisa. She’s happily moving on in her career but she was in tears throughout her crew’s goodbye.

A wonderful leader, Lisa is alert and smart, quick-moving, technically capable, and people-oriented. She knows everybody who works in the store and likes us all, and she manages efficiently and effectively overall.

Here we all were yesterday. Lisa is in the middle, identified by a big, shiny necklace.

Dear Friends: After a memorable day off, I’ll be working and adapting to change today. Diana

End-To-End

Friday, May 31, 2024

I’ve looked forward to today, the opening day of baseball locally. Our Bend Elks will play against the Walla Walla (Wash.) Sweets. My friend Julie and I will be in the bleachers, stomping and yelling for the Elks.

Last season, after hesitating for years to go to an Elks game, I attended one. I had expected little of a second or third-string training team. To my surprise, that game was a big family event. I was challenged to find a parking spot and an empty bleacher seat. The game, a slam dunk for the Elks, didn’t hold my interest throughout; however, the sociology did. Throughout, family groups cheered and stomped for the Elks and children had a grand time.

I picked up on a local club’s larger appeal, which extends beyond the game itself, by creating a sense of community and offering an affordable, accessible form of entertainment. I got hooked on attending and planned to buy a season ticket, but my working schedule interferes, so when possible I’ll attend games.

Today is important, too, unique in a different way. This is the last day our store manager, Lisa, will be working with us; she’s moving to Colorado to start managing a larger store. I’m not on today’s working schedule, but going to the store and will bid Lisa a fond goodbye. She’s one of the best managers I’ve been fortunate to know. All of us who work in this store will miss her.

This Saturday will be my next working day. It’s also the start day for our store’s new manager. I’m certain to be saying more later about the change.

Dear Friends: A day that’s starting emotionally and later winding up energetically. Diana

Finding Currents

Thursday, May 30, 2024

Daddy Robin perched on a post and watching me. The handsome fellow already had me following several careful, watchful “stops.” He was obscuring the destination for that tasty morsel in his beak. I had already been in the barn and seen Mama Bird sitting on unhatched eggs. The nest is solid and will keep their babies safe. I hope to be unobtrusive and also observe their family and activities. Both parents know my presence, and their staying put is a tickle.

Soon after snapping the header photo, I glanced upward, spotting another gift: a pair of Ravens utilizing air currents to soar and were highly visible under a white cloud. Capturing Ravens in their soaring activities has been one of my dreams. Here’s my earliest sighting.

I watched the pair using currents to gain altitude and then glide downward until they found another updraft. Occasionally, they came low before rising again. Finally, they were low enough and also beneath bright clouds, and my camera could capture more details.

Ravens use various air currents to conserve energy and stay aloft for long periods, scanning for food or traveling long distances during migration. I’ve observed Raven adults in the sky and training juveniles to use air currents. This seems too early in the season for a parent to be training a juvenile, plus that training usually is a group outing. This pair could have been young adults courting in the sky or playing and having fun.

Ravens don’t actually float on air currents but utilize them to soar. That means they use air currents to rise and gain altitude before gliding downward and finding another updraft. This energy-efficient flight method lets large birds cover vast distances with minimal effort. A group of Ravens in training is a spectacular sighting.

During my sky-spotting, I saw this very dim mid-afternoon moon. Capturing that moon with enough visibility forced me to manually focus my camera. I made the foreground trees a bit fuzzy in order to make the moon as clear as possible. This image encourages me to focus manually more often.

Dear Friends: These are thrilling spring signs; I’m anticipating more. Diana

Wide Range

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

My house on a hill offers lovely views of the Central Oregon Cascade Range. I took today’s header photo during pleasant weather; my long lens nicely captured the Broken Top and South Sister Mountains. Broken Top is an ancient-spent volcano; and some estimate that South Sister is bubbling away. Hopefully, the SS won’t become a Mount St. Helens. I pack in such thinking, loving my proximity to eye candy.

I have this beautiful day off from work. I’ll try to finish my chores before there’s too little daylight to take off with a horse and my dogs. At the very least, maybe I’ll horseback ride (without my dogs) on the local streets.

I will be interviewed tomorrow for a part-time job in the department store where I’m already employed. My potential new work would be selling fine jewelry. That’s up my alley because selling jewelry is in my DNA. My parents used to own and successfully operate a jewelry store.

I’m reminded now to order a book about gemstones. I want to learn more about their colors, shapes, and descriptions. Potentially, there’s a new world opening.

Dear Friends: Sky, mountains, stones, and feathers–nowadays, big in my world. Diana

A May Sky

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

The header image combines a nearly full moon with soft, downy feathers. It’s my early effort to evolve an abstract with the potential to become an evocative, memorable viewing experience.

At the beginning of May, my birthday month, and thinking about the upcoming day, I decided to gift myself something special, creative, and perhaps from my imagination. An easy way would be to photograph everyday objects. The resulting images could be edited, altered, and maybe combined.

That project forced me to look at everyday objects and “see them” differently. Besides focusing on an item’s unique appeal, my mind’s eye had to imagine its potential to offer more. That’s not how I usually approach images.

After examining everything my camera produced, I liked many images but wasn’t inspired to alter and combine any. What interested me was that my mind lingered on two images, particularly a filling moon and fluffy bird feathers. I don’t know why, but there they were, encouraging me to think about trying to work with them.

I had no creative vision, which was okay, for something can evolve by making an effort.

Dear Friends: I must avoid overthinking this and keep working on it. Diana