WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS: “SWAGGER" AND OTHER RECYCLED WORDS

Before you adopt a new 

way of defining yourself, find out what the term you've chosen really means, and decide whether or not you're either exchanging integrity and dignity for stupidity and self-sabotage. 

Find out if you're exchanging one title for another one that means the exact same awful thing.

It's sad enough to badmouth others on purpose, but even more ridiculous to badmouth yourself and not even know it. 

No words are "just words".
Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." 

Matthew 12:36-37 says “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned”

Just because something sounds hip and trendy, it may be wise to check it out thoroughly before proudly applying it to yourself. 

There are words that have garnered affectionate places in our vocabularies, even after having been labeled the dregs of the word society. 

Calling someone a "nigger" or even "black" used to be grounds for a fight. 

“Bitch" used to be reserved for those who handled our four-legged friends. 

"Ho" was a directional word, and the addition of an "e" on the end, meant there was  some yard work to do.

 "Dope" used to refer to illegal, addictive narcotics, but these days, it's what every new song or beat hopes to be. 

"Wifey" sounds cute, but just isn't a compliment. Does any woman, who desires to be married, merely aspire to be wife-like? She may be excited to be "Number 1", but does a woman really want to be on a list that implies there is a Number 2...or 3? Of all of the deluded chicken-heads in the harem, is it complimentary or a source of pride to be the one a man might consider marrying? 

Oh, yeah. "Chicken head" used to mean just what it says. The head of a chicken. Today, it refers to an immature, needy, silly, desperately infatuated, girl groupie. 

I suppose it's a good thing when a word or phrase gets a pardon, is recycled, and becomes respectable. Unfortunately it takes some people a long time to catch on. Some people never do, and cringe at the thought of having to regularly hear disrespectful words that conjure up violent memories of a shameful past.

There's another term that is tossed around like free candy, by people who I'm sure haven't done their homework--or maybe they have, and are actually proud of their air of superiority. 

The word of the hour is "swagger". I didn't know that it was an actual, existing word, so I checked the dictionary:
SWAGGER- to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner; to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence; boast; brag

I recall a Dr. Seuss story called "The Big Brag" that would knock the wind out of everybody's swag.

Is it possible to be proud of being annoying? 

That can't be good.