WE ASKED READERS for their favorite word. Here is a selection of what arrived, with replies from the editor.
“Hope is my favorite word and companion in these sometimes hopeless times because, in the words of Emily Dickinson, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul. That sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” Thank you.”
Judith Norman, Fort Worth, Texas
Thank you, Judy, for your reply and for reading ArtDesk. Hope: the opposite of dread and the sublimation of fear. A few friends and I started something recently on Zoom with University of Oklahoma philosopher Dr. Nancy Snow. It was a call every Wednesday evening in February, which we’re continuing in April. Maybe we’ll do it again in June. For our first call, we delved into Hope. It was really wonderful! Evidently, hope was studied in the history of philosophy, but greater attention was paid to it just after World War II, and more so since 2010. Because of that “hope” call and Dr. Snow’s reading recommendations, I started listening to Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning on Audible, probably the most important piece on hope published in modern times. (It was written over the course of nine days in 1946, shortly after Frankl was liberated from a concentration camp.) You are more than welcome to join us on future calls, which may last beyond April, or not at all. Time will tell.
“Surrender. Surrender to happiness. Surrender to love. I surrender all.”
Kyla Thompson, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Thank you, Kyla. Surrender is one of those words, in the psycho-spiritual landscape, that can be so confusing. Sometimes it takes years to fully understand what it means to surrender. When a person gets it, really gets it, he or she understands that it means to let go, to live in what is instead of what we fantasize about what should be. With surrender comes so much freedom.
“During 2020, my favorite word became liberty. I thought about the word so often that when I got a new Mini-Schnauzer puppy toward the end of the year, I named her “Libby.” Whenever I need to reprimand her I call out sternly, Liberty! At those moments, I am reminded of the sweetest, most precious gift we have in this nation. With pride and appreciation, as I scoop up my fur baby with a big hug, I declare, “Liberty!, I love you so much!””
Paulette Black, Norman, Oklahoma
In the immortal words of Mel Gibson in Braveheart, “Freedom!”
“Our favorite word at the Kirkpatrick Family Archive is wholeness. We like to think that part of what history can do is somewhat like what family can do: bring a sense of completion by allowing individuals from the past to connect to those in the present.”
The Kirkpatrick Family Archive
Wholeness has been on my mind a lot lately: what defines wholeness, who defines wholeness. Historical context surely lays the foundation to overall wholeness. Maybe wholeness is simply a state of mind, or even a choice. Maybe wholeness is a fleeting moment of contentedness, or for some, maybe wholeness is an abstract aspiration that they can never attain (yuck). Mainly, in my experience, wholeness is in the eye of the beholder.
“Intimacy. I love how it conjures a sense of deeply personal connection. It just sounds like the type of emotional bond that it is describing. Thanks for letting everyone have this opportunity.”
David Hull, Yukon, Oklahoma
It’s what everyone seems to want but few know how to handle. Dr. Henry Cloud (co-author of Boundaries with Dr. John Townsend, 1992) refers to intimacy as “into me you see.” Clever wordplay. I like that. It communicates. Intimacy is a close sister to sincerity, which we deduced to be “courage + vulnerability = sincerity” on the philosophy calls with Dr. Snow. May everyone who seeks intimacy have it in abundance in their lives.
“One of my favorite words is KAYAK, not only because it’s a palindrome, but because it could almost look like a kayak with the K’s holding the word together like the bow and stern of the little boat. As a former English instructor, words have always been the flour that holds together the lovely words it can bake. Oh, bad metaphor: words can be weapons, too. But a kayak is just a lowly boat. I look forward to seeing what other words people suggest. Great little project to think about on a winter’s day. Best from Denver’s cold Wednesday.”
Sally Kurtzman, Denver, Colorado
Hi, Sally. I am playing catch up this Friday evening, from a balmy late winter day here in Oklahoma City. While I have been more of a canoe person in my life, I now delight in your word because of the shape of the Ks. Maybe you should take your English teacher skills to the world of marketing and branding. I think you have a gift. I drew your words on a piece of paper just now, with a reversed K, and I am still seeing a canoe. Can a canoe be a kayak? Is a kayak a type of canoe? Rather than running straight to Google, maybe we can just sit in the wonderment of it all.
“obstreperous”
Sody Clements, Nichols Hills, Oklahoma
Dutifully Googled. As the mother of three boys, I more than understand this definition.
“My favorite word is pantuflas. I learned Spanish when I was quite young and taught it for many years. This word is fun to look at, even more fun to say, and it means “house slippers.” Pantuflas is simply a lovable word. Thanks for asking!”
Rosalea Cartar, Lawrence, Kansas
Rosalea, I write to you this morning from the comfort of my baby blue pantuflas, purchased a couple of months ago at Penn Square Mall, here in Oklahoma City. They are made by Cabernet and are the same brand worn by my mother, who died in 2018. Our dogs have managed not to chew up this pair, and my youngest son sometimes wears them around the house. Thank you for sharing pantuflas. I didn’t know this word before your email. Lovable, indeed.
“My favorite current word, meraki, is a modern Greek word often used to describe doing something with soul, creativity, passion, or love; the essence of yourself that is put into your work, whether it be difficult or simple and small; a labor of love. There is no English equivalent. It’s my current favorite word because I think it explains how people can accomplish things that would be almost unfathomable for others, from artists to athletes. There is even a book, Meraki: The World’s Most Beautiful Words by D.K.S. Dhara. You might want to check it out. I enjoy ArtDesk. Thank you for the meraki you and staff put into it!”
Barbara LaGree, Edmond, Oklahoma
We’re always pleased when readers notice our efforts. Thank you, Barbara.
“I think my favorite word is whimsy. It’s such a happy word and it feels good in the mouth to say it, especially when you give a little extra breath to the “h.””
Tim Bradley, Centennial, Colorado
Tim, are you familiar with the character Stewie on Family Guy? If not, be sure to watch the Wheat Thins segment on YouTube. Whhhheat Thins. You’ll never say Wheat Thins the same way again, and Alana (our managing editor) and I will never say whimsy the same way, either. Thhhhhanks for the big chuckle.
“Lemniscate [or double infinity], and here is why: “What is infinite about endlessness is only the endlessness itself,” said philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. Seems a bit pedantic now that I look at this, but there you are.”
William Patty, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
William, I think your favorite word represents one of the most beautiful images we have on planet earth. I like everything to do with sacred geometry, and the lemniscate is a reminder of our interconnectedness. I don’t have any tattoos, but if I ever planned to, I might consider that one.