Thursday, March 4, 2010

Ten Aussie Words I Miss



Diversity as a Path to Fuller Life

As an Aussie living in America, it’s a lot of fun learning about different cultures, even the minor differences between American and Australian culture. Diversity is beautiful, but I still miss Australia. Here are ten Aussie words that I miss hearing regularly.

1. Yabber- as in to talk (a lot). In good Aussie style most group of friends will include one person with the nickname “Yabbers”.
2. Wobbly- as in to chuck a wobbly or get very excited or agitated.
3. Not the full quid- as in, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, or a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock.
4. Give a gobfull- as in to tell someone what you really think. The person getting a gobfull might be gobsmacked, as in surprised.
5. Ankle biter- as in a small child not a deadly snake.
6. Cactus- as in dead or not working. As in what happens if a deadly snake bites your ankle.
7. Daks- as in pants. If there is a way to shorten a word, Aussies will find it.
8. In the nuddy- as in your birthday suit.
9. Spit the dummy- as in give up.
10. Ear bashing- an alternative to a gobfull.

Diversity is beautiful. Every country has its own language and phrases, and many parts of each country have completely different accents and phrases. When I first moved to America, I was mistaken for a Floridian, Bostonian and even a Middle Easterner. Then of course there were people who thought Australia and Austria were the same place, but that’s another article that involves questions like “Do you have electricity in Australia?”

Every person, place and culture has its own unique experience. Our senses deepen our experience of life, and we barely even touch the depth of our senses. Each of us has a unique blend of sensory experience. One in every thousand people even experiences a phenomenon called “synaesthesia” which is the pairing of senses. They automatically link one sensory experience with a different sense; for example they smell sounds, see smells or hear colors. The most incredible thing is that many of these people don’t even know they have synaesthesia. The way they perceive the world is normal to them.

The way you perceive the world is a unique part of your divine expression. Hebrew religion says that all of life is made in the image of God, therefore everything is an expression of divine diversity. All the diverse parts of yourself are beautiful. You have your own accent on life. You have a spiritual dialect that is your unique gift in the world.

Life is so much fuller when diversity is celebrated rather than feared.Affirm diversity, your own and others. There is nothing to be feared and so much to be gained. Spread the seed of love and healing by celebrating diversity.

www.soulseedz.com

Seed of Diversity

Celebrate your contradictions. Be an extroverted introvert or a task oriented romantic. Be an at-home Mom who likes pole dancing or a meditator who likes heavy metal music. Don’t resign yourself to your quirks. Don’t even tolerate your idiosyncrasies. Celebrate your contradictions today and build them into your own unique style

Say to yourself: I am one of a kind. I am large and have space to hold diversity.

Seed of Sensation

Your senses are alive and connected. Do you see colors when you think of certain people or places? You may have moments when you smell sounds, see smells or hear colors. Certain words or music may evoke flavors or colors. Maybe you see music. Allow your senses to tease your imagination, and enjoy a sensual smorgasbord.

Say to yourself: My senses are finely tuned. My life is sensational.

2 comments:

Bricky said...

I've sometimes wondered whether or not we all see the same when we observe colour. When I see grass, for example, how would I know whether I'm seeing the same colour as others see when they observe grass? Someone else could be seeing the colour that I call red. If their perception and my perception have always been as they are, how would either of us know that we differ? I once read that colour is the one thing that cannot be described using language alone.

How would you describe a specific colour to a person who has never had sight?

Lisa J. Chorny said...

Funny, I've had the same thought as Bricky. What if my pink is your black and my blue is your yellow. There's really no way for us to tell. We all interpret the energies manifested on this earth through our own filters.

Thanks for the entertaining Aussie phrases Ian. Although, I've heard the term "ankle biters" plenty of times here in the states. Maybe it's an Aussie influence?

Namaste,
Lisa