Friday 23 November 2012

The two worst words in the English language ?


If you work in an environment where the sick and dying are never far you are naturally reminded of your own mortality. However I like many readers of this blog I am intrigued and fascinated by decades gone; I’m a Historian. I’d like to think of myself as having one foot in the past rather than one foot in the grave.  It is curious however, that in an age of ever increasing life spans and good health we seem less equipped to deal with the passing of time and our mortality or more to the point living the life we have fully. I’ve been struck in the last couple of months about how cautious and guarded people are: with their time, their affections and their passions. Those who are older seem constrained by what has happened to them already, often rather than learning from the past they are living by it and seem constrained and over analytical. 

More curious however is the conservatism of the young, is it a generational thing this strong sense of caution? Perhaps the post-Thatcher generations, technology savvy and entitled have been hit harder by the recession and the removal of things the baby-boomers (I’m not one) saw as ‘rights’.  It cannot be because I become from a particularly privileged group generationally (1980’s working class Britain was quite grim) that it appears that we were and remain somewhat livelier. I did always think that recession resulted in a greater appreciation of the things that matter in life: love, friends and living. Is technology to blame? After all enough money for a half pint of strongbow in a pub, an evening of leaping around in a darkened room with a noisy band or tearing around London causing mayhem were all you could do to alleviate boredom in the 80’s. No computers, no internet, no Nintendo WII. The best freely available entertaining activity generally simply required another reasonably attractive human being who was ‘up for it’. No accident that we were all fairly slim too..

Now many life decisions appear to be sadly reliant on one of the worst words in the dictionary: ‘caution’. I’m not complaining about common sense but caution- that mealy-mouthed Daily Mail of a word. The word that stops people from trying things, jumping in feet first, asking people out, having fun, staying up late, taking a punt, having a fling, placing a bet. Caution results from being scared, nervous, underestimating yourself and others and every time it wins it results, to my mind, in a small death. 

I don’t mean you should do things you don’t want to, or dangerous things or that you have to be some insane loud lunatic throwing dice in the air although that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The phrase: ‘throwing caution to the wind’ has a meaning of liberation and freedom  for a good reason. Caution is not ‘taking care’, rather it is not caring; a flattening of experience. So we end up with corporate clothing, corporate lives, dull lives. I’m not known as a cheerful soul myself but I have made the trade-off between hard work and wealth in favour of useful work and enough to pay my way. Enough to spend a good weekend (just gone) at Rhythm Riot, the rockabilly weekender with hundreds of people who were together and determined to enjoy themselves. Every single risky decision I have made has done me no actual harm, caused no regrets and more often than not enriched the life I have managed to have so far.

In the happy bus at Rhythm Riot (picture courtesy of Bex Shaw).

Enjoyment and pleasure in others, the world, your surroundings is an admirable aim not an irresponsible one. If you can help others to feel the same even better if this can be done without causing problems or at cost to others. Because if one truism really is a truism it is that life is very, very very short.  

NB: the other word I dislike is ‘Stilton’

32 comments:

Vintage Scans said...

Live dangerously. Especially when frying eggs.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I always wear black leggings and I would like to wear a different color.
I'm certainly not sure what color or perhaps type of shirt goes best with it. Please answer. I open to any suggestions. Thank We for the time.:). exactly what type of shoes?
my webpage :: sparkly leggings

sree said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sree said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I want to to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every bit
of it. I have you saved as a favorite to look at new things you post…
Also visit my blog ... pizza games memphis

Anonymous said...

Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text
in your article seem to be running off the screen in Chrome.
I'm not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I'd post to let you know.

The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem solved
soon. Cheers

My blog post; http://letuslearn.in/

Anonymous said...

xytazf http://abc-louisvuittonoutlet.com htdsxl http://www.canadagoosehut.com hvjijg http://www.mymontblancforcheap.com bacsfu http://beatsbydrecheapp.com npxpzq http://alouisvuittonoutlet-au.com gcndrd [url=http://abc-louisvuittonoutlet.com]louis vuitton outlet[/url] qcmsm [url=http://www.canadagoosehut.com]canada goose[/url] vcxxq [url=http://www.mymontblancforcheap.com]mont blanc pens[/url] razlj [url=http://beatsbydrecheapp.com]cheap beats by dre[/url] jdxhqc [url=http://alouisvuittonoutlet-au.com]louis vuitton bags[/url] dhqe

Anonymous said...

Диета супы-пюре
Препараты для похудения
Лептин кофе для похудения

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/dieta-priustanovki-stenta-v-pischevod.html]Диета приустановки стента в пищевод[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/pohudenie-velotrenazher.html]Похудение велотренажер[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/dieta-oksalatnye-kamni.html]Диета оксалатные камни[/url]

Anonymous said...

Сухофруктовая диета на три дня
Пластырь плоский животик для похудения люсеро 14 шт. люсеро
Самая быстрая диета на неделю

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/treska-otvarnaya-pripuschenaya-s-ovoschami-recepty-dieta.html]Треска отварная припущеная с овощами рецепты диета[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/zolotaya-ser-zhka-dlya-pohudeniya.html]Золотая сер жка для похудения[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/femikaps-pohudenie-otzyvy.html]Фемикапс похудение отзывы[/url]

Anonymous said...

Сухофруктовая диета на три дня
Пластырь плоский животик для похудения люсеро 14 шт. люсеро
Самая быстрая диета на неделю

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/treska-otvarnaya-pripuschenaya-s-ovoschami-recepty-dieta.html]Треска отварная припущеная с овощами рецепты диета[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/zolotaya-ser-zhka-dlya-pohudeniya.html]Золотая сер жка для похудения[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/femikaps-pohudenie-otzyvy.html]Фемикапс похудение отзывы[/url]

Anonymous said...

Сухофруктовая диета на три дня
Пластырь плоский животик для похудения люсеро 14 шт. люсеро
Самая быстрая диета на неделю

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/treska-otvarnaya-pripuschenaya-s-ovoschami-recepty-dieta.html]Треска отварная припущеная с овощами рецепты диета[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/zolotaya-ser-zhka-dlya-pohudeniya.html]Золотая сер жка для похудения[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/femikaps-pohudenie-otzyvy.html]Фемикапс похудение отзывы[/url]

Anonymous said...

Сухофруктовая диета на три дня
Пластырь плоский животик для похудения люсеро 14 шт. люсеро
Самая быстрая диета на неделю

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/treska-otvarnaya-pripuschenaya-s-ovoschami-recepty-dieta.html]Треска отварная припущеная с овощами рецепты диета[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/zolotaya-ser-zhka-dlya-pohudeniya.html]Золотая сер жка для похудения[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/femikaps-pohudenie-otzyvy.html]Фемикапс похудение отзывы[/url]

Anonymous said...

Сухофруктовая диета на три дня
Пластырь плоский животик для похудения люсеро 14 шт. люсеро
Самая быстрая диета на неделю

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/treska-otvarnaya-pripuschenaya-s-ovoschami-recepty-dieta.html]Треска отварная припущеная с овощами рецепты диета[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/zolotaya-ser-zhka-dlya-pohudeniya.html]Золотая сер жка для похудения[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/femikaps-pohudenie-otzyvy.html]Фемикапс похудение отзывы[/url]

Anonymous said...

Сухофруктовая диета на три дня
Пластырь плоский животик для похудения люсеро 14 шт. люсеро
Самая быстрая диета на неделю

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/treska-otvarnaya-pripuschenaya-s-ovoschami-recepty-dieta.html]Треска отварная припущеная с овощами рецепты диета[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/zolotaya-ser-zhka-dlya-pohudeniya.html]Золотая сер жка для похудения[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/femikaps-pohudenie-otzyvy.html]Фемикапс похудение отзывы[/url]

Anonymous said...

Сухофруктовая диета на три дня
Пластырь плоский животик для похудения люсеро 14 шт. люсеро
Самая быстрая диета на неделю

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/treska-otvarnaya-pripuschenaya-s-ovoschami-recepty-dieta.html]Треска отварная припущеная с овощами рецепты диета[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/zolotaya-ser-zhka-dlya-pohudeniya.html]Золотая сер жка для похудения[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/femikaps-pohudenie-otzyvy.html]Фемикапс похудение отзывы[/url]

Anonymous said...

Сухофруктовая диета на три дня
Пластырь плоский животик для похудения люсеро 14 шт. люсеро
Самая быстрая диета на неделю

[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/treska-otvarnaya-pripuschenaya-s-ovoschami-recepty-dieta.html]Треска отварная припущеная с овощами рецепты диета[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/zolotaya-ser-zhka-dlya-pohudeniya.html]Золотая сер жка для похудения[/url]
[url=http://sitediethelper.ru/femikaps-pohudenie-otzyvy.html]Фемикапс похудение отзывы[/url]

Anonymous said...

buy medication online [url=http://viagra-prix.webs.com/#6n9w]viagra prix[/url] [url=http://cialis-prix.webs.com/#7f3c]cialis pas cher[/url] plavix no prescription USA xut cheap plavix tablets aco Medicament cialis levitra au maroc zithromax generique france priligy no prescription USA ksu

Anonymous said...

buy medication online [url=http://viagra-prix.webs.com/#6n9w]viagra prix[/url] [url=http://cialis-prix.webs.com/#7f3c]cialis pas cher[/url] plavix no prescription USA xut cheap plavix tablets aco Medicament cialis levitra au maroc zithromax generique france priligy no prescription USA ksu

Anonymous said...

Learning English is now a days can happen easily with online classes http://www.youtube.com/user/twominenglish

Anonymous said...

zithromax [url=http://clomidhere.eklablog.com/#2v3c]clomid pharmacy[/url] [url=https://flavors.me/sildenafil_citrate_in_connecti#8i8r]buy kamagra online with paypal in Singapore[/url] [url=http://stratteraherex.lo.gs/#1t7n]strattera pharmacy[/url] qbc gkr cheap kamagra in uk kamagra price atarax pills strattera without prescription kamagra no prescription hrd

Anonymous said...

Youг own rеport offerѕ pгoven
helpful to me. It’s very informatіve anԁ yοu гeally are cleaгlу
quitе еducatеd in this fielԁ. You have
got рopped my pеrsonal eye to diffеrеnt thoughts about this mattеr
wіth іntriguing, notable and ѕtrong аrticlеs.


mу blog: viagra online

Anonymous said...

Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate
you writing this write-up and the rest of the website is very good.


Review my blog; agrmertola.drealentejo.pt

Anonymous said...

Well, such is the fact behind Olympus' latest firmware refresh for that sleek E-M5 Micro Four Thirds shooter. But many doctors think it would be possible to mistake the symptoms related with CFS plus Work Xd9 For Sale deprivation. Do anything that makes you feel great about yourself.

my page - pharmacy

Anonymous said...

They have been proven to aid night time Sleep $Agent_Startup_Timeout.
Given below is some information on how cranberry sleep $agent_startup_timeout may help in incrementing the size on
a faster note. Some experts contend that early morning exercise
helps kick the body's metabolism into gear for the day.

my homepage ... sustainabilitymarket.in

Anonymous said...

I'd like to find out more? I'd care to find out more details.


My web-site; exercises to jump higher exercises to improve vertical exercises to improve vertical jump exercises to improve vertical leap exercises to increase vertical exercises to increase vertical jump exercises to increase vertical leap exercises for vertical exercises for vertical jump exercises for vertical leap workouts to jump higher workouts to improve vertical workouts to improve vertical jump workouts to improve vertical leap workouts to increase vertical workouts to increase vertical jump workouts to increase vertical leap workouts for vertical workouts for vertical jump workouts for vertical leap vertical jump exercises vertical leap exercises vertical jump workouts vertical leap workouts

oakleyses said...

longchamp outlet, nike air max, jordan pas cher, prada handbags, oakley sunglasses, chanel handbags, polo ralph lauren outlet online, louis vuitton outlet, air max, longchamp outlet, nike air max, polo outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, tiffany and co, louis vuitton outlet, ray ban sunglasses, nike outlet, kate spade outlet, nike free, louis vuitton, louis vuitton outlet, tiffany jewelry, jordan shoes, longchamp outlet, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin pas cher, louis vuitton, sac longchamp pas cher, burberry pas cher, christian louboutin uk, ugg boots, tory burch outlet, uggs on sale, polo ralph lauren, christian louboutin outlet, gucci handbags, nike free run, oakley sunglasses wholesale, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp pas cher, christian louboutin, christian louboutin shoes, michael kors pas cher, replica watches, replica watches, oakley sunglasses, prada outlet, nike roshe

oakleyses said...

hollister, beats by dre, vans, mont blanc pens, valentino shoes, gucci, giuseppe zanotti outlet, vans outlet, reebok outlet, hermes belt, babyliss, celine handbags, wedding dresses, nike roshe run, chi flat iron, oakley, iphone cases, soccer shoes, converse outlet, new balance shoes, ralph lauren, nike air max, p90x workout, nike air max, mac cosmetics, longchamp uk, lancel, nike trainers uk, ray ban, ferragamo shoes, nike huaraches, soccer jerseys, north face outlet, lululemon, louboutin, jimmy choo outlet, baseball bats, nfl jerseys, insanity workout, asics running shoes, herve leger, hollister, north face outlet, abercrombie and fitch, ghd hair, bottega veneta, mcm handbags, timberland boots, instyler, hollister clothing

oakleyses said...

canada goose, thomas sabo, moncler uk, ugg uk, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, montre pas cher, hollister, doudoune moncler, karen millen uk, juicy couture outlet, canada goose jackets, replica watches, canada goose uk, moncler, louis vuitton, links of london, louis vuitton, wedding dresses, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, swarovski, canada goose outlet, canada goose, marc jacobs, swarovski crystal, canada goose, louis vuitton, juicy couture outlet, pandora jewelry, coach outlet, pandora charms, moncler outlet, pandora jewelry, ugg, supra shoes, moncler, moncler outlet, ugg pas cher, canada goose outlet, pandora uk, canada goose outlet, toms shoes, moncler, moncler

lamiss ibrahim said...

I definitely love this site.
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/prokr
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7421661549272645002&pli=1#allposts
https://slashdot.org/~prokr
https://www.prokr.net/ksa/jeddah-water-leaks-detection-isolate-companies/

Alan Curtis said...

I want to share with you all here on how I got my loan from Mr Benjamin who helped me with a loan of 400,000.00 Euro to improve my business, It was easy and swift when i applied for the loan when things were getting rough with my business Mr Benjamin granted me loan without delay. Here is Mr Benjamin email/whatsapp contact: +1 989-394-3740, 247officedept@gmail.com.

خدمات منزلية said...

كشف التسربات

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails