Word of the month for august

Intention. It’s a word with multiple meanings, and it’s one that can inspire a bit of guilt, too. “It wasn’t my intention, but…” is a phrase uttered by everyone at some point. Life happens, and many things don’t go as planned. Embracing improv as an important life skill brings peace of mind and perspective.

And yet. Sometimes we bring the guilt of missed opportunities and missed connections on ourselves through overscheduling, overthinking, and overworking. Maybe what we need is a radical reduction of ambition, a purposeful desire to do less, but with more focus, more love, more attention; more, yes, intention.

In what ways would doing less with more focus change our lives?

What if ― rather than scheduling ourselves down to 5-minute increments ― we plan to accomplish just a few, truly important things each day? What if some of those things are quiet and unseen, but influential to our souls and relationships? What if our focus deliberately becomes less global, but more specific to those we love and influence directly? What if we pay true attention to individual people, close-to-our-heart pursuits, and the satisfaction of creating goodness right here, right now, where we are?

Such a life is unlikely to make the news. The victories are too intangible, too cosmic to tell a compelling “story at 10pm”. That’s precisely why such a life makes such a difference.

Intentionally living small is really living large. It depends on how you love, and where you choose to focus your energy and attention. It brings about what’s true, what’s dependable, what’s beautiful, what’s honest. It creates healing and hope.

Intention is the only road to home.

Voting was close for the July Hall of Fame Poet. Steven Withrow, V. L. Gregory, and Silindile Ntuli finished in a tie. However, both Steven and Virginia are previous winners and cannot win again during this twelve month period. Therefore it is my pleasure to announce that Silindile is our July Hall of Fame Poet.

A special thank you to our one and only July young poet, Taylor McGowan, for her good poem. Several people have commented on how much they enjoyed that. We’re always glad to see your work, Taylor.

Congratulations to you, Silindile, and my thanks to everyone who contributed a nice, itchy poem during July. It was a month of many chuckles.

For August I decided to change the subject entirely. Our August word is LOVE. What can you do with that? I look forward to seeing what your creative minds conjure up!

August marks the 11th month for Word of the Month. September will complete the first year. Starting in October, all previoius Monthly Hall of Fame Poets will once again be eligible to win. Starting with October, I’ll announe a new system for selecting the monthly winners.

Also in October, we’ll post the winning poems for each of the first twelve months so everone can vote on our first Hall of Fame Poet of the Year. That should be exciting! We’ll have two ballot boxes up, one for the adults and one for the young poets.

Thanks for the ideas about how to celebrate my first blog anniversary on August 9. Please keep them coming. I leave town Sunday for five days but will do my best ot stay in touch.

David

If you’re in Europe, it’s likely you’re taking an extended holiday during the month of August. If you’re anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, you might just be trying to stay cool.

August, a word that means “inspiring reverence or admiration,” is the name of the eighth month of the year in our Gregorian calendar. It’s the sixth month of the ancient Roman calendar used by the Roman kingdom and republic. Back then, the month of August was known as Sextilus, Latin for “sixth month.” In 8 BCE, the month was named in honor of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor.

Who is the man August was named for?

The emperor was a man of many names. He was born Gaius Octavius, the grandnephew of Julius Caesar. He took the extended name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus in 44 BCE after Caesar’s assassination. Though in English texts, he was often referred to simply as Octavian.

Then in 31 BCE, he defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra to gain control over the empire. Finally in 27 BCE, when he was named emperor, he was given the honorary title Augustus.

What does it mean to be august?

When we describe something as august, we are saying it is majestic and inspires reverence or admiration. The word can also take the form of an adverb (augustly) and a noun (augustness).

August also relates to augury, the act of divination (telling the future), particularly by the behavior of birds and animals and the examination of their entrails and other parts. Augurs were the official Roman soothsayers, whose job was not to tell the future so much as to determine if the Roman gods approved of a planned course of action.

Make the trek through this collection of words with Greek and Roman mythical origins.

And here’s a usage not heard often: an auguste is a “type of circus clown who usually wears battered ordinary clothes and is habitually maladroit or unlucky.” May your August be filled with favorable omens and devoid of unlucky circus clowns.

How do we celebrate August?

Of course, during August, we not only celebrate, but also prepare: teachers and students of all ages get ready to go back to school and many start a new school year.

But that doesn’t mean the meaningful holidays come to a stop. August kicks off with Caribbean celebrations in honor of Emancipation Day, which memorializes abolition within the British Empire, a process that began with the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Many Caribbean countries honor emancipation on either August 1 or the first Monday in August (August 2 in 2021). 

The Islamic calendar begins with Muharram, which falls on Aug. 9 in 2021.  The Day of Ashura is a respectful period of mourning held the 10th day of Muharram, so it falls on Aug. 19, 2021.

In August, you can choose to celebrate a favorite fruit (Watermelon Day is Aug. 3), a beverage (International Beer Day is Aug. 6), or oysters (they have their own commemorative day on Aug. 5). 

August is also special month for Leos (those born between July 23 and August 22) and Virgos (those born between August 23 and September 22). Those born under these signs have their pick of words, from  lionhearted to ardent (Leo) and from elegant to orderly (Virgo).

Like July, August is a quiet month for the news, real komkommertijd. But this month, something exciting happened: Lingo is back! And with it, some of Lingo’s iconic vocabulary. The word of the month is: Puzzelwoord (puzzle word)!

Click here for previous Words of the Month

What does it mean?

Puzzelwoord (puzzle word) quite simply refers to a puzzle word. This can be a word quiz in the krant (newspaper), in a televisieprogramma (TV program) or – if you are one of the dedicated puzzlers – a puzzelboek (puzzle book). But why is the puzzelwoord relevant to this month specifically?

Relevance to August

Earlier this month, it became clear that Lingo was coming back! The puzzelprogramma (puzzle show) ended in 2014, and many were sad to see it go. But it is back, and tonight the new season had its first episode at 20:00 (8 pm) on SBS 6. You can find the episode here, though it may not be available in your location. If you are able to receive SBS 6, it airs every weekday at 20:00 Dutch time.

Lucille Werner, who presented the show from 2005 to 2014, tweeted the following last year:

Minister @wkoolmees wil het inburgeringsbeleid veranderen door meteen met taal te beginnen @jineklive Idee: breng @lingotv terug! Ooit leerden nieuwkomers spel(l)enderwijs elke dag Nederlands. #oplossing

— Lucille Werner (@LucilleWerner) July 3, 2018

It says “Minister Koolmees wants to change the integration policy by beginning with language immediately. JinekLive idea: Bring Lingo back! Newcomers once learned Dutch every day in a playful manner #solution”.

And so now it is back! While for nieuwkomers, the game may be a little too challenging, it can certainly help you recognize words and patterns in Dutch vocabulary. Plus it just is a fun experience! Anybody can sign up, and so you also get a glimpse at regular Dutch people from all walks of life.

But what is the weeknight puzzle show, how does it work? The regels (rules) are quite simple, actually. Jan Peter Pellemans, the voice in the studio who verifies whether words really exist and better known as JP, described the regels:

“Het is een taalspelletje dat draait om vijf-, zes- en zevenletterwoorden. Je moet zo snel mogelijk woorden raden aan de hand van de letters die je krijgt.”

(“It is a language game that revolves around five-, six- and seven-letter words. You have to guess words as quick as possible with the letters you are given.”)

When a letter is orange, it is in the right place. When a letter is in a yellow circle, it means the letter is in the word, but not in the correct position. Can you find the right word fast enough?

Here’s an episode to give you an idea of what that looks like:

Did you know all the words mentioned? Let me know in the comments below!

And finally, here some comic relief of some… let’s say, unprepared candidates. Do you know the words they’re looking for?

Do you have a similar spelprogramma (game show) in your country? How do you like Lingo? Are you going to watch more on it? Let me know in the comments below.

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Beloved, could you use some encouragement from the Lord today? If so, today’s word from the Lord–a prophetic word for August 2021–is going to be like a healing balm of Gilead for your soul.

These are the two words the word the Lord spoke to me for August 2021:

1. August is a healthy month.

The Lord said, “You have been listening to me about the health changes I have told you to make, and you are starting to change accordingly. The changes you are making are taking effect; your taste buds and habits are changing.

Change is a long process, but you are doing the work I commanded you to do. Have I not told you to be strong and take courage? I am helping you become strong, and I am helping you to become healthy.

In August, I want you to pursue “strengthening your arms” and body, like the Proverbs 31 woman does. This applies to both men and women; it applies to both young and old.

Physical strength is a virtue; it honors Me and allows Me to use you for more and greater purposes. Physical strength also allows you to fight the good fight of faith, laying hold of that for which I have laid hold of you.

You can run with endurance when I strengthen your heart; but to strengthen your heart, I need you to cooperate with Me. Make yourself strong in the month of August!”

2. It is the month of RESET (R.E.S.E.T.).

The letters of “R.E.S.E.T.” stand for the following:

Receiving
Engaging
Stillness
Energy
Transition

And the Lord says this about each of these key words:

“Receiving:

I have given you a holy premonition–an advance word of knowledge–about what I want to do for you this month. I had to do this because the things I want to do for you are so big, you weren’t even praying big enough at all!

You have been a faithful steward.

You have asked me several times if you have messed things up, but I tell you today that I see your heart and it is pure. You have been a faithful steward and, although you still may make mistakes occasionally, I am rewarding you for the purity of your heart.

Remember My Word in Psalm 18:24: “Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.” You will find in this month of August that I am rewarding and paying you back for all your trouble. According to the cleanness of your hands I will hand out your reward, and I say to you again that your heart is pure.

Count on Me to give you DOUBLE for your trouble!”

“And about ‘Engaging,’” says the Lord:

“In the month of August, you will find Me engaging you in the work I have prepared for you at a greater level.

You just noticed yesterday that “you’re back”; that you feel rested and refreshed and “like yourself” –in fact, better than the concept of yourself that you had gotten used to–for the first time in a long time. And that is in fact true; you are operating as yourself at a higher level than you previously have, and it’s all because of My REST.

In August, you are going to continue resting; in fact, you will never leave this state of rest,” says the Lord.