Word-allergic
Kerry’s fiancee is word-allergic. Too much time in corporate environments, maybe? When he is around, we can’t refer to the Unstuck, um, events we do as workshops (cue cheesy accent).
Nope. The word is anathema to him, and now he has infected me. Every time I think of the word now, it conjures to mind olden-times me, trying desperately to stay awake at corporate ra-ra sessions. I never quite managed to stay conscious, and what followed was several days of avoiding people’s eyes in case they had seen my head swivelling wildly on my neck as I dozed.
So we can’t call our things workshops anymore. Events they will have to be.
And that brings to mind another word I am allergic to: retreats.
I have been on many a retreat in my time; I associate them with watery, tasteless dal soup, enemas (don’t ask me why, I have never actually had one) and forced group activities. Also, sharing bathrooms, or, worse, bedrooms, with complete strangers. I Don’t Do Well with that.
Rest assured that weekend events I have a hand in will not involve any of those things (especially not the bad food. Bad food is not our friend. Or the enemas) and they won’t be retreats either. I don’t know what they will be. Weekends. Away. In fabulous spa-type surroundings. In fact, sign me up! I need one of those right now!
But first, indulge me and my word-rant a little longer. Two other words that make my teeth hurt?
Sincere
and
Earnest
All I can say about these two words is: earnestly furrowed brows, a deep-seated belief that you need to follow all the rules and then one day you will be good enough. Maybe. Weird food rules. Too much hemp to be stylish. A distinct absence of any sense of humour. Probably more patchouli than I am comfortable with. Cult membership. Zeal. A desire to convert people.
In short, ick.
I can earnestly say that the world needs more levity and less, um, sincerity.
Any words you are allergic to?
One that springs to mind is “open door” (yeah I know it’s two words). Open door policies are passive agressive ways of saying I am going to micro-manage you and interfere in everything you do and probably put you down as well….
I may have issues….
i’m not sure i’m allergic but i am hearing you on the retreat front.
i was going to go to a silent retreat this weekend but already am re-thinking it. if it was in a spa atmosphere – OMG SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW I DON’T EVEN CARE HOW MUCH IT COSTS OR WHAT WE WILL BE DOING.
hmmmmm….sounds like you’ve been on the wrong retreats, Nadine…I’ve never had to share a bedroom with anyone and the food I’ve had was awesome! and I did not go on “spa type” retreats, these were yoga or meditation trainings.
my boss talks all the time about ‘is the juice worth the squeeze’ and ‘we gotta keep the wheels on the bus’ (yes, i work for the man). i cringe everytime.
also, ‘panties’ and ‘moist’.
unrelated (i suppose) but both give me the heebie jeebies.
I so know what you mean about words/phrases, how they get overused and in the wrong context!! Drives me nutty.
One of my current aversions is to ‘At the end of the day… ‘
I know 2 people who use this regularly and I switch off right around the third word….
x
I’m allergic to any carelessly used Sanskrit: “I’m vegetarian cuz of, um, ahimsa and stuff.”
The very word retreat strikes me as misleading, though I often use it because it makes sense of my wanderings to other people. When my husband & I give our outdoor yoga “retreats” we refer to them as “Direct Experiences.” My everyday world isn’t so fraught that I need to retreat from it. Rather, the time away is a simplifying, condensing experience of what is there all the time. Like a beautiful reduction simmering over a flame. & btw, I must second Linda-Sama’s testimonial: I’ve had some spectacular food and lodging on “retreats.”
How about… “Team Building Exercises” It just screams “I have to play nice today with people I may not necessarily like, plaster a smile on my face and pretend that I do like them”
Very rarely do I find someone creative enough to put something together that doesn’t feel like drudgery.
I get the concept, I really do. I’ve even seen them have positive outcomes, but… *gag*
I agree with Rachel about “open door” as well. It’s an excuse to be nosey. This is my space, that’s yours…please go back in it and stay out of mine. ‘Course, I’m rather territorial like that.