Words of Week 15

Pretentious: Characterized by assumption of dignity or importance, especially when exaggerated or undeserved
Trite: Lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed; stale:
Ethereal: Extremely delicate or refined
Aural: Of or pertaining to an aura
Perennial: Perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent
Gadfly: A person who persistently annoys or provokes others with criticism, schemes, ideas, demands, requests, etc.
Relinquish: To give up; put aside or desist from
Implore: To beg urgently or piteously for (aid, mercy, pardon, etc.)

What Makes You Feel Alive?

An interesting question this is, really. Caught me by surprise. I was asked on ask.fm and I initially wrote a haiku about eating ice cream in the winter, and wearing black clothing in the summer, but somehow it sounded equivocal, and as if I was hiding a top-secret subtext between three lines of poetry.

Then, I wrote about adrenaline and my love of extreme roller coasters. I wrote about realistic feelings caused by fictional happenings. I wrote about drinking tea without adding sugar. I wrote about things that made me feel alive, but they all seemed so remote to the deepness of the question.

So, I took a break, and after my break, I found the genuine answer:
"I feel alive when I see people accomplish things and change the world. Watching TED Talks, seeing videos on YouTube and reading about this era's distinct zeitgeist -- that's what makes me feel alive."
When I watch people do great things, I feel proud to be a fellow human. I know that I spend the majority of my time criticizing Homo sapiens in general, but, occasionally there are heroes amongst us who break the barriers and step up to stand out. They reach a certain level of maturity and distinction. They build new ideals, and set new precedents. Those people make me feel alive. And they make me feel alive because they ignite creativity and hope.

Here are a few of my favorite TED talks:


YouTube videos:

And so on. There are tons of places where you can view how the world is changing. Small and separate efforts, successful too. We just need to combine them to have a positive impact on a significant scale. 

Lots of ribbons
~Belle

Words of Week 14

Inquisitive: Curious or inquiring
Fervor: Intense and passionate feeling
Impetuous: Acting or done quickly and without thought or care; impulsive
Arrogate: Take or claim (something) for oneself without justification
Conscientious: (of a person) Wishing to do what is right, esp. to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly
Consensus: General agreement
Duplicity: Deceitfulness; double-dealing
Countenance: A person's face or facial expression
Fortitude: Courage in pain or adversity
Sordid: Involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt
Bittersweet: Sweet with a bitter aftertaste