Words, Their Meanings and Influences

Recently in surfing through blogs I stumbled upon yet another idea that ties in with my definition and interpretation thoughts. There is yet another element to it all. It is those things that are completely unrelated that pop into our minds when we hear a word. Like those inkblot image tests. Words can evoke the same kind of response.
Now I am not saying that all words will do this to us, but I am finding more and more they do. We often like to use word trees to explore ideas, well this is similar to that. Think of it as a word tree. Take those words that mean something more to you than just their base definition and start thinking of the things that are unrelated, or maybe unrelated to others, of that word.

I will do this with Imagination. For me that word has more meaning than just the physical. The dictionary tells us that Imagination is:

 

To me Imagination is what gives us the creative process and ability to create in our minds. Now I will add the unrelated things that pop in my head when I hear or think of Imagination. Firstly I think of flying. I think because Imagination reminds me of Peter Pan. Now for how I think this affects my view of the word. To me, I think that it really makes me see imagination as flying high and giving the ability to create anything! It is freeing, in believing that anything is possible.

 

Now for your thoughts and opinions! Please share, what are some thoughts on words that you have completely unrelated words you associate with them? What are some words that you find you interpret differently than the definition?

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More Definitions

So, I have come to realize in exploring the definitions of words and my inner interpretations I started with the wrong words, or at least skipped two very important ones! So with that, I am going to take a look at the two most important words, when looking at all others: Definition and Interpretation.

Definition literally means:

This is a word I have never really thought of before. Never really thought about the distinct meaning and what it is to me. But when looking at it, well, I think of it as how we explain words on a broader scale. So that we as people can speak the same language and have a basis of what we mean. It is what gives tangibility to the words we use.

To me though, words can not be defined without some Interpretation, so here is a look at that word as well.

The dictionary tells us that Interpretation means:

To me, interpretation is how an individual defines a word. It is how we as individuals see everything around us. Through the lens that is our view of the world. Every word, everything we see, everything we think and feel, it is all touched by interpretation. From ourself, others, everything around us. In some ways interpretation is a form of judgement.

Through the use of these two words, one really starts to realize how each and every one of us speaks our own language. There is common factors that help us to understand one another, and by being aware of our own definitions, our own interpretations I think it can help us grow as people and is something especially important for writers to look at. So I encourage you, if you have not before looked at the words you use, the world around you and how you view it, take a moment… what do the words mean to you?!?

As always I look forward to hearing from you all! Please share, your thoughts, your definitions for the words we use!

The Texture of Hope

Lately I have really been delving deeply into what words mean to me. Looking at my inner self and seeing what it is that moves me, drives me forward. Well, today while surfing the web I stumbled upon this writing prompt and I loved the idea and thought to share with you my answer. The prompt was this: What is the texture of Hope? I now have a passion and want to explore some of the words I have already very recently looked at, and keep up with my inner explorations. In the meantime, here is my answer:

from somewhere on the interwebs

Hope holds a texture all its own. It is the texture of the softest blanket and the roughest sandpaper. Soft because hope gives so much to the heart and mind. It creates the idea of so much more. Rough because, the road following hope is often filled with bumps. You fall, you get drug along the way, and yet with hope you keep moving forward.
Hope, to me, is about achieving the end goal. It is about the possibilities that live in every experience, every idea and every dream. The dictionary tells us that hope is: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. But it is really so much more than that. It is a belief, a belief that things really can be more than they seem. That no matter the odds dreams, ideas, goals, that they can still be achieved.

 

What about you? What texture does hope hold for you? What does the word symbolize and mean when you think about it, feel it, and experience it? I would love to hear about it!

A Look at Some Vocabulary

I have been struggling lately to really be able to write. I have taken some time for introspection and while doing so have really focused on my dreams and goals in life. With that in mind I thought it a perfect thing to post about.
So today I am going to focus on some meanings of a few words that everyone looks at a little differently, feels a little differently about, and yet everyone uses.

First lets start with Inspire.
The dictionary tells us that Inspire is:

When I hear the word Inspire, or find something inspiring it is more than that. It encompasses an emotion that floods through me. To me, it is more of an emotion itself! I often share things on my blog that I find inspiring in the hopes that others can be flooded with this feeling…

Now let us turn our minds to Encourage. A word that could be considered very similar to Inspire.
The dictionary shares the word Encourage to be:

To Encourage is such a selfless act in my mind. It is to help another reach towards something that they desire in some manner or another. I would like to think that I encourage others from time to time with my perseverance.

Lastly I am looking at the word Goals. Now I am not talking about something you shoot for in Soccer, no I mean what we work towards in our lives.
The dictionary sums this one up pretty good:

Goals, something we work towards. Struggling ever onward. Sometimes we give them up only to find new ones. (Hmm, that may become a new post in and of itself…) I find goals goes hand in hand with dreams. They are not the same mind you, but yet they can be exchanged for one another. Dreams can become and be goals, but goals can not be dreams as they are more tangible, something we are actually moving towards.

 

What about you?  Have you ever taken a closer look at these words?  What they really mean to you as an individual?  Take a moment and share with me, I would love to hear what they say to you!