Tuesday, April 27, 2010

One Word


As you know, I had recently read Eat, Pray, Love.  If you had one word to describe you as a woman, as a mom, as a wife, a sister, a friend...one word that embodies who you are, what would it be? One word that ties up all of your roles and all that you are mind, body, and soul.

I have been thinking about this relentlessly for weeks.  Maybe, too hard.  I still haven't come up with one word.  I am a verbose person.  I am not sure concise could ever be used to describe me.   Coming up with one word is like asking a mom which of her children is her favorite (of course if you have one child that certainly makes it easier).  If we were simple people and one-dimensional than this task would be made easier still. Yet, in reality we are so complex. Elizabeth Gilbert thought of SEEK, PLEASURE, DEVOTION, and other words before settling on her word.

I thought about narrowing it down to an adjective, a noun, or a verb.  Still no luck.

The other night I thought of TRANSFORMATION.  I am always striving to be better at something, constantly changing. My views of motherhood and parenting are always evolving.  I am always moving things around, trying to be better organized.  Molding, blending...transforming. Okay, maybe REMODEL would fit better. Hmmm...maybe INQUIRER.  I am always curious about anything and everything.  Are we not always inquiring about how we can be better mothers, friends, siblings...

This challenge of coming up with just one word is driving me crazy.  This quest is like a song I can't get out of my head.  I almost want to give into the urge to grab a dictionary and scour its pages for a unique word that would roll off my tongue.  Or I could just ask my friend, a writer, for suggestions. She always has good ideas to share.

I am resisting that urge.  I know the right word will appear at some point.  Maybe this can be an exercise in cultivating the patience which I seem to have lost in the last few years (or at least seen its decline).

Enough with my philosophical meanderings.

What word describes you? 

Photo credit: Michelini on Stock.xchng

11 comments:

CaneWife said...

Frenetic.

I'm always on the go, jumping from one thing to the next.

I should probably try to go for something a little more serene. Like "zen."

Pamela Scott said...

bubbly, thats what my family and friends say about me!!

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

That is hard. Just one word? That's a challenge, but if I had to it would probably be "unpredictable"

Anonymous said...

I read that book too about a year or so ago, and I would have to say "flexible" or "adaptable." The needs of my family keep changing and I need to be able to "go with the flow!"

Anonymous said...

I have no idea. I am never good at things like that, yet, I love words!

Daisygirl said...

maybe your word should just be Fabulous!!!

That is hard....what would my word be? Eclectic maybe? Spontaneous?

Where is my dictionary?

Liz Mays said...

I'm thinking along the lines of: disorganized.

hmmmmm

Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip said...

I like that you described yourself as transformation. That sounds powerful and true. I have no idea what word I would be. The ones off the top of my head are neurotic, intense, excitable...

Buckeroomama said...

I've always wanted to read that book, but haven't had the chance. I saw that they're making it into a movie starring Julia Roberts.

One word to describe me? I think mine would be EVOLVE. Similar to your TRANSFORMATION. :)

Lourie said...

Supercalifragilisiticexpialadocious! Hmmm did I spell that right? haha.

Seriously tho, I have no idea. I like "transformation" tho. It certainly is. I am very different now than I was some 12 and a half years ago.

Joy@TPMG said...

You guys came up with some great words. I can't wait to see the movie. When I read it, I had a hard time visualizing how they could make it into a movie but the trailer looks amazing. Maybe better than the book:) Okay, so I am biased since I love Julia Roberts.

Post a Comment