Yikes. It seems like it’s been a year since I’ve written you all! (Okay, that’s a turn on an old joke. I apologize. Sorta.) When I finish this, the first Don’t Rush Me of 2016, I will only have 51 more to write. And, when I look at it that way, it seems kinda daunting. Maybe even a little scary.
Over the years, folks have asked me how I come up with ideas for my column. I think it’s kinda funny because they asked me that early in my Don’t Rush Me writing career, and less so with over 1,500 columns put to bed.
I reckon I’m lucky because I have been afforded the opportunity to write about whatever pops into my melon.
As this is the first column of this year, I could write about Don’s Resolutions for 2016. But, I ain’t gonna? do it. No-sir-ee. I hate to put down in print something that might not come to pass. (I think that is called CYA, covering your derriere.) So, whilst I shan’t make new year resolutions, I have come up with something else to help guide me through 2016. I have chosen a word, a single word, that I hope to ponder or reflect on, before taking action.
My word was going to be ‘canoodle? because everybody, especially me, needs more kissing and cuddling amorously in their life. And while we all know canoodling is cool, I thought maybe, just maybe I needed a more thoughtful word. I closed my eyes, sat down and crossed my legs lotus position like, touched my thumbs to my middle fingers, cleared my mind and breathed deeply.
Let me say Canoodle is strong, tough word and while I was in a state of mindful peace and openness It wanted to fill me — and in Technicolor! I would have none of it (or not much of it), and mentally I pushed on in search of my word for 2016. I jumped off the fluffy, white cloud of canoodling into a clear blue sky, not knowing where I would land.
And, it hit me like the ground had I fallen from that cloud.
Valor.
My guiding word for 2016, that which will light the path before me, is valor. Wow. Now, that is a word for you! If you are not much of a wordy and more of a texty, here is a definition of my word, valor: great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.
Again, wow!
Life is fraught with danger. Around every corner of every decision you or I make, danger lurks. The decisions and actions we all make and take can lead us to ruin or to something truly wonderful. Sometimes we make bad decisions; sometimes we take the ‘easy? way out; and sometimes we back into situations instead of meeting life head on.
Should we act with valor will we not have a better shot of making the right call, doing the good thing and living the life we want?
I know, I know. I agree there are no guarantees in life and acting courageously is no guarantee of happiness either, but dangblab it, it sure sounds good!
And, since Valor is now my adopted word, I also get to attached to my being the synonyms associated with it. Get a load of these synonyms I cut and pasted from the internet, and then tell me you are not jealous of my new word: bravery, courage, pluck, nerve, daring, fearlessness, audacity, boldness, dauntlessness, stout-heartedness, heroism, backbone, spirit; informalguts, true grit, spunk; moxie.
Hubba-hubba!
I like moxie. I dig spunk and pluck. I yearn to be bold and daring. But, I admit, I had no idea what the heck informalguts was, so I looked it up on-line with the off shot I could find a new word this year and adopt said word next year. What I found for the word ‘informalguts? was this: No human translation has been found.
Upon further investigation, I have come to the conclusion informalguts is actually a typo. I think it’s sposed to be ‘informal guts.? I suppose we can create our own word informalguts and make up our own definition. Your call readers. Send me your definition and an example of how you would use informalguts in a sentence.
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While dining at Casa Real Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, I asked my two sons what their word for 2016 would be, adding there were no right or wrong answers. Fifteen-year-old Sean blurted out quickly, ‘endurance.?
‘I will have to have endurance to finish the book I am writing,? said he.
Shamus, 18, was more thoughtful. And before answering he took another bite of nacho. Just like when standing at the wishing well and making your wish, if you want it to come true you keep it to yourself, so too Shamus acted. He looked up at me from his plate, smiled and nodded but kept it to himself. He had his word and he wanted it to be true.
You all know this year I will canoodle with pluck, and audacity, but what is your word? Let me know. E-mail your word to Don@ShermanPublications.org.