Inventing My Own Words

I went hiking yesterday with my good friend Selah, and it occurred to us that the English language does not have a word to describe the serene state of ignoring the minutiae in the name of living for the moment. It also dawned on me that the only words "invented" by our generation are slang terms like 'extra' which encourage the degradation of our lovely language and promote conformity at the expense of individuality.

I think we have forgotten how to express ourselves properly. Instead, we use Snapchat and Instagram, among other social media platforms, to see others' lifestyles and mimic them. We have become a culture of self-obsessed, copy-and-paste clones who are largely devoid of independent thought. And that has to change.

William Shakespeare viewed art and language as a mirror and explored this idea throughout many of his works. This quote from his play Coriolanus is a perfect example: "Let them look in the mirror which I hold up to them, a mirror which does not flatter, and see themselves."

Additionally, this quote from Hamlet conveys the role that creative expression plays in the revelation of ugly, human truths by prompting in us a desire to change our behavior (both singly and as a society): "The purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature: to show virtue her feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure."

I recently stumbled across a sort of antithesis by Bertolt Brecht, and here it is: "Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it."

I tend to believe art reflects the fundamental nature of humankind and also shapes the way we think and live. Both arguments are valid, but Shakespeare's idea is implicative of a shift in thought. How can art dictate our realities if we remain blind to them?

Also, Shakespeare's ideas became prominent during the Renaissance, an era known for being a cultural wellspring of artistic output. The modern generation, on the other hand, is known for being the cause of a cultural drought. We should aim to create more beautiful words the like of which Shakespeare, as the "Bard of Avon" and father of the English language, would be proud. We should aim to create words that inspire rather than demoralize.

'Taleity' is a word of my own invention. It can mean any number of things and can be interpreted in many different ways. To me, it's that feeling of retreat. It's a feeling of sanctuary one can only find through God, the earth, and good fellowship. It's the smell of the earth after a rainstorm. It's a steaming cup of coffee on a foggy morning. It's a breath of clean, fresh air when you crack open a window on a summer afternoon. It's telling someone you love them and hearing it back. It's finishing a poem and giving it to the person for whom it was written and seeing the smile on his or her face upon receiving it. It's life's small moments that stay with us forever. That's what 'taleity' means, and notice you can't spell it out without 'tale' at the beginning. Our stories deserve to be told in the most eloquent way. Do whatever it takes to get yourself feeling inspired. If that means going for a hike, then so be it. As Selah put it, "It's amazing how stepping on dirt can make you feel clean."

Your life is your journey, and you will pave your own way in this world. You will make your own path. Write things down along the way, record your progress, and express yourself with aureate language that reflects who you really are. I challenge each and every one of you to invent words that are meaningful. I challenge you to surround yourself with real people who elevate you on a consistent basis and help you become the best version of yourself. There's more to you than the number of followers you have or how many people like your pictures. You are a multi-faceted being who was created to do wonderful things. Everyone has a gift, and everyone has a story. I challenge you to find your gift, share your story, and be lovely. Pursue lovely dreams and lovely people. Only then can you escape the mediocrity of greed and worldly desire and find peace in your heart.