I was thinking recently that my perspective really changed with age. For instance, when I was a teenager, I swore that I would never do a job that required me to clean toilets. Now, in my mid-twenties, I bring in a little spare income by cleaning an office building. Not only that, but I am thankful for the opportunity.

Another thing that was unthinkable to me in my teens was the idea of living overseas doing any sort of humanitarian work. I figured that people who actually wanted to be involved would do my share. Honestly, I now yearn for the chance to be in the middle of some sort of action, helping people in the process. I only hope that an opportunity opens up for me and my husband in the near future.

The fact that only ten years or so drastically changed me makes me wonder just how different I’ll be in another ten!

One of my mega-peeves are spouters of “inspirational” quotations or mottos…especially the ones who repeat, post on facebook, or tattoo on their bodies some trite thing as though they were the first to ever think it. Yep, living, laughing, and loving will generally make your life more worthwhile, but I’m pretty sure the manufacturers of those mugs, wall decals, kitschy knick-knacks and licence plates are really just out to get your sentimental dollars.

All that to say, while I love a good quotation or motto and will often share one, I think relying too heavily on some other person’s catchphrase will leave you a stunted drone (with a house full of garbagy printed clutter).

Oh, and…

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.”

~Herman Melville.

Herman totally gets it.

Sometimes I run across a word that sparks my imagination and delight. Wight is one of those words. It is now obsolete, though you might run across it in video games and the like. Here is its etymology and history. Be sure to check out www.etymonline.com, which is where I found this etymology. It’s one of my favourite sites!

Wight, n.

From Old English wiht “living being, creature,” from Proto-Germanic *wekhtiz (cognates in other languages include Old Saxon wiht “thing, demon,” Dutch wicht “a little child,” Old High German wiht “thing, creature, demon,” German Wicht “creature, infant,” Old Norse vettr “thing, creature,” Swedish vätte “spirit of the earth, gnome,” Gothic waihts “something.” Apparently, the Old Church Slavonic vešti “a thing” may also be related. The word is unrelated to the Wight of the Isle of Wight.

The Sacred Book of the Werewolf by the Russian author Victor Pelevin is a racy, thought-provoking book which follows its lead character, A Hu-Li (a name which brings to mind a Russian obscenity), through her journey of self discovery. Oh, and she is an ancient shape-shifting fox who makes a living by “prostituting” herself using the powers of her tail to bring to life her clients’ fantasies. In return, she gains a bit of their life force.

The book is a delightful web of criticism, philosophy, and politics spun into a fantastic fable. My only warning is that if harsh or sexually explicit language offends you, you should just avoid this book altogether (though I’ll add that, in my opinion, these things were not used gratuitously in the novel).