(Non) Mood Boosting Word of The Year 2022 Revealed: Permacrisis
A series of catastrophic events & extended period of instability & insecurity
It’ll come as no surprise to any of us that this has made it to the word of the year of 2022 — permacrisis. Listed by Collins as an extended period of instability and insecurity led by a series of catastrophic events.
Not a mood boosting word but perhaps a word that conjures the most accurate reflection in explaining what has been happening within this year alone, most notably due to; Ukraine, ‘Partygate’, the revolving door of PM’s, the cost of living crisis but also the last 3 years really with all the trauma that COVID-19 bought is enough to send anyone into deep hibernation. Believe me there have been days where I’ve been tempted to say, ‘wake me up when it’s all over’.
Well there was no such hibernation when the word of the year was revealed as The Guardian instantly spurred into action and listed 10 new words added to the dictionary with permacrisis being one and with splooting (when a dog lies on the floor with its legs splayed especially in hot spells of weather) and Carolean being another (the era declared after the death of The Queen and drawing to a close of the Elizabethan era which prompted the natural succession and reign of The Prince of Wales to the thrown whom became King Charles III.)
Quite interestingly the process for a word to become officially recognised as described by the likes of The Oxford English Dictionary (and others), begins its extensive birthing journey by being put on a, ‘watch list’ database (sources are varied) and captures their use and development ready for editors and several research teams to work out its most accurate uses and to ensure it’s cited properly before it’s signed off and given its stamp of approval by a Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Editors.
Who knew it would be such a robust system (I had no idea until I researched it for this article) but editors look at thousands of word suggestions and accumulate evidence to decide if its prominence is enough for it to become permanent and if it should remain on the, ‘watch list’.
I mean, what’s in a title, a name or a word? For example, if I take my name, Amber, The Cambridge Dictionary states nothing remarkable about it but I was always told by my lovely parents that it’s a precious and rare jewell — although my brothers also used to say that they sometimes had mosquitos trapped in them — which isn’t untrue either — but one draws a very different image in the brain to the other and naturally like many things it’s in the perception with which you choose to view it that builds our truth, narrative and attached emotions.
So, perhaps it’s not the word but the belief of its meaning to us as individuals that we take and cherish as a personalised version rather than a generic term that means nothing and doesn’t touch our hearts?
Mind you, how could any of us not understand what permacrisis means — we probably don’t even need a dictionary definition to tell us. For me and my family the last few years have been tough on a personal level and the same for us as an immediate family — like many of us we suffered throughout the pandemic, we worried, we rallied around one another and we valued people over substance because when that comes under threat you realise quite what that means to you.
The single most important thing that has come out of this whirlwind of a time that we’re living in is that the people I love are everything to me and when it comes down to it money is what makes you stable and able but without the wealth of our health nothing much else matters.
Never will I again take for granted a good day, a day where everything is simply okay. A day where the ordinary happens and that to me is extraordinary, along with the gratitude of being able to live a life of choice and the freedom to choose what path you take and the people you choose to bring with you.
What value do words mean to you and what feelings does permacrisis provoke within your mind?
Not Quite so Random Bi-Weekly Fact
Did you know that the headshot of the monarch we will see on coins, notes and stamps of King Charles III will face to the left, the opposite of The Queen? Find out more about the changes and expected dates of circulation here in an article by The Metro.
Films Not to Waste Your Time Watching (IMDB links added)
You know I’m an avid cinema goer and my very special school friend and I trot off for our bi-weekly gossip night and film entertainment. Well, two films we have seen very recently that are highly likely to mess with your mind and leave you querying why you spent so much time watching them are;
Don’t Worry Darling: starring big names with the likes of, Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Chris Pine and Olivia Wilde — a somewhat disturbing and alternative reality — my English teacher would have hated this as she banned us from writing stories that ended with, ‘it was all a dream’ type finale. (slight spoiler alert but not in anyway giving very much away).
Banshees of Inishiren: With Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell this film is located on an island off of Ireland which follows a tragic and fictional story of human unkindness and the abrupt ending of a friendship leading to the dizzy heights of desperate acts of one friend to create an imagined legacy of musical art to a level beyond any sense and realm of what any of us might consider usual.
I’m not one for defining normal for anyone but myself (and even then I don’t like to be boxed to any one thing) but this was on another scale and I guess the 10 people viewing it at the same time as my friend and I would have felt the same, as someone shouted out at the end how poor it was. (These were not their actual choice of words but are also not suitable for this respectable newsletter of lengthy thoughts.)
Books to Read
If in doubt wash you hair by Anya Hindmarch: I bought this in the summer when at The Happy Place Festival by Fearne Cotton and I was fortunate enough to have my copy signed by Anya herself and this is a read full of wisdom and mentor moments that you can draw upon and use to guide you through parenting as well as challenging business times when you don’t have a North star to navigate you towards what feels like the right solution.
The Hungover Games by Sophie Heawood: A fast-paced and sharp read based on the biography of Sophie herself living in LA and having to move back to the UK when becoming pregnant and going solo as a single parent.
It’s an honest and frank account with captivating and dark moments written with the bold and real truth that’s relatable and recognisable but written with charm and clever wit even when sharing vulnerable and low moments.
TV Programmes & Films to Watch at Home
As a spy fanatic and MI5 wanna be this film is a sure thing for any hardy fans: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Mark Strong,Tom Hardy, Stephen Graham, Kathy Burke et al, all star in a sorrowful tale of deceit and deception with a high ranking mole embedded deep within control and the tragic events that unfold in the wake of treason and when the erosion of trust mean that no one can be relied upon. Currently showing on Disney +.
Murder They Hope with Sian Gibson and Johnny Vegas perfectly match humour and murder in this witty and funny three part drama. A must watch if you need a pick me up and easy watch.
My Festive Favourite Advert of 2022
Check out Aldi’s take on a Home Alone theme with Kevin the Carrot, the family trip to Paris and his run in with a snowman. My lips are sealed but this is my winner and a laugh out loud one for me by far this year. Search for #KevinTheCarrot and watch the advert here.
Podcasts I’ve Been Listening To
Best Friends by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin episode 8 with Rachel Zoe.
Diary of a CEO most notably, episode 197 with Labrinth.
Feel Better, Live More with GP and Author Dr Rangan Chatterjee on How to Heal Chronic Pain with Dr Howard Schubiner, episode 310.
Find them wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Getting My Groove On — You Should Too
I’m back to Zumba after a number of years hiatus and have been loving every foot I’ve put wrong in the name of exercise and sheer joyous fun. If you’re in a bit of an exercise slump and if I could recommend any one thing it would be to say to go back to find something you loved before you stopped or paused exercise. The hardest step is the first one but once you’re back in the zone it gets a whole lot easier and the motivation drives itself — it’s almost addictive.
The smile on my face stretches out for hours after I’ve been to the classes although my berry, berry red face says hard work and sweat has certainly occurred. (Much to the loud laughter and amusement of my husband and children when I arrive back home with a tomato coloured face).
Building a Thoughtful Community: When We Work Together We Grow Together
I always greatly value you and your thoughts as we grow together as a community — share with me your stories, tales and thinking out loud comments below (questions welcome).
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