Rewind one day...(yikes)

Hello people and welcome to July. Yes, no need to check your calendar, it is indeed already the 7^th month of 2015. July 1^st also means it is time for a new post to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group created by Alex Cavanaugh. Thanks Alex! 

 For me, IWSG is a purposeful reminder (the proverbial string tied around the finger) to post on my blog. It’s not that I don’t like to blog, I’ve just got this pesky little so-and-so sitting on my shoulder constantly lecturing on how I should be doing absolutely nothing except working toward my deadline on Time Trials, book #3.

I have this to say about that. Thank goodness August is a long month.

Life does come into play, though, and I get to flick him/her/it to the curb, or put a piece of duct tape across that big mouth.

Last month I wrote about unusual words. Well, guess I’m not through with the word issue, however, the ones I have chosen this time are more common. 

Simple vs Shallow

Simple - easy to understand, not elaborate or artificial; not ornate or luxurious; unadorned; unassuming; modest

Shallow – not deep; lacking depth; superficial

I often think these two words are interchanged, though I see them as opposites. My maternal grandparents come to mind. My grandfather worked at his brother’s gas station, my grandmother worked at Joske’s (later bought out by Dillards) in Women’s Sportswear. They lived in a crackerbox 2-bedroom house with a kitchen so small two people struggled to walk past each other at the same time. Some of my favorite memories as a child were spending weekends with them. The window sill in the kitchen over the sink was lined with the most beautiful African Violets. To this day I can still hear my grandmother singing while she cooked. They were simple, but happy people. Definitely not shallow.

Childish vs Child-like

Childish – behavior of, like, or befitting a child

Childlike - like a child as in innocence, frankness; sharing the wonderment of a child’s inquisitiveness

I often feel childlike when I stop to admire a cloud formation or find amusement in two squirrels playing chase through the huge tree in our front yard…

Aggressive vs Assertive

Aggressive – characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks; making an all-out effort to win or succeed no matter what the cost to others; vigorously energetic, especially in the use of forcefulness

Assertive – confidently self-assured; completing a task in a manner as to least offend or hurt others

This reminds me of working at an all-male intensive residential substance abuse facility back in the 90's. Besides having a full case load, I taught Behavior Modification 5 days a week to a large group of men. I worked with TAIP (Treatment Alternative to Incarceration Program). I believe learning the difference between how to be assertive without being aggressive was a true eye-opener.

Words are funny things. Last month I found words I couldn’t even pronounce and never heard in conversation. This month are just plain words…similar but very different.

Over and out for now. Hope you enjoy the summer heat more than I do…