The REAL power of words

A single word can take on so many different meanings.  Take the word REAL, for example.  It can be used in many different ways. When you use the word REAL you usually intend it to mean one of the following:

1 actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed

• used to emphasize the significance or seriousness of a situation or circumstance

• Philosophy relating to something as it is, not merely as it may be described or distinguished.

2 (of a substance or thing) not imitation or artificial; genuine

• true or actual

• [ attrib. ] (of a person or thing) rightly so called; proper : he's my idea of a real man | Jamie is my only real friend.

3 [ attrib. ] informal complete; utter (used for emphasis) : the tour turned out to be a real disaster.

real ² |rāˈäl| |reɪˈɑl| |riˈɑl| |reɪˈɑːl|

noun ( pl. reals or reis |rā sh; rās|)

the basic monetary unit of Brazil since 1994, equal to 100 centavos.

• ( pl. reales |rāˈäles|or reals) a former coin and monetary unit of various Spanish-speaking countries.

ORIGIN Portuguese and Spanish, literally ‘royal’ (adjective used as a noun).

Needless to say, words can be confusing, fantastic and multi-functional. 

Editors like to play with the meaning of words.   They take familiar words and use them in many different ways to make us think.

Five minutes away from my house is a little market gardener.  Like all market gardeners, they sell mostly local produce.  This local farmer, however, loves to advertise his home-grown goodness by calling it “REAL” -  “REAL” corn, “REAL potatoes and “REAL” blueberries. 

These signs annoy and intrigue me.  Why would anyone call local produce “REAL” ______?  What ever happened to using good old words, like local, farm fresh, homegrown?  I mean “REAL”, really?  Oh course, it’s real.  I can feel it, see it and, most importantly, taste it.

Whoever chose this slogan thought of a way to get my attention and to get me thinking about their product with one word. This is the power of words.  They can get us thinking and feeling about anything. 

As an editor, it’s important to attract your audience with interesting words and visuals that stops them in their tracks.  With all the competition in the market, it’s important to use whatever means you have to stick in the audience’s mind, and words can have a huge impact on getting your audience's attentions.

New blog, new look

When I decided this morning to write my blog I knew I was going to move away from just writing about health and wellness to writing about things in my everyday life. I had no idea, however, that my blog would become entirely new, minus a URL change, this morning at 7:49.

First, logging in was a bit of a challenge. As you know, I have not blogged since school ended in May. So, needless to say I couldn't remember my password, which is a common occurrence - I forgot my twitter password too.

Second, the minute I finally logged on new templates popped up. I tried them all out to see which one would be a nice fit for this "new" blog. I decided to pick the one with the flying birds, because I though it fit in nicely with everything that is going on in my life and my new beginning after school this year.

This year is my fifth and final year of university/college, and I always want to look back on this year to remember the trials and tribulations I went through. This blog will be like a journal as I deal with CreComm, work, family, boyfriends, friends and everything else in between.

Stay tuned...

Quit smoking, now it's time to be serious

A couple months back I saw a commercial for the birth control I take - Don't be surprised everyone I'm not saving myself for marriage. The commercial warned that there are some serious risks when taking the birth control, Yasmin. It was all the usual stuff, like women shouldn't smoke because of the risk of stroke. But it wasn't so much the risks as the fact that lots of women have been affect by the side effects after using this pill.

So, of course when I was at my Dr. I asked her about it. She said, "I wouldn't be worried about it, if you haven't had any problems at this point everything should be fine." Should be fine, what does that even mean? I expected her to tell me to quit right away, or what was I thinking smoking? But she didn't. So out of mind the worrying went, because why would I want to worry too much about something like that? After all, I'm young I'll be fine.

After a few months, the warnings came back to haunt me. While re-filling my prescription I noticed that right on the packing on a bright yellow sticker was the warning once again right in my face. It said, " Smoking while taking this pill can cause circulation and heart problems." Yikes, that scared the shit out of me especially after my mom had told me the day before that stroke and heart problems are prevalent on both sides of my family - good to know. I started worrying, I'm cold all the time especially in my fingers and toes, clear signals that my circulation isn't the greatest.

Needless to say this worries me a little bit. This brings me to two choices:

1. Stop taking the birth control, or

2. Quit smoking.

I choose option 2, quit smoking. This is a lot easier said then done. As some of you may remember I tried to quit smoking at the end of last term, so why not try again as this term and this year officially come to an end. Follow me as I try to quit smoking during the most toughest season to quit smoking - summer, patios and drinks.

Magazine writing isn't as easy as it seems

Since it's the end of the year, I thought I'd stop nagging everyone about health and wellness and instead share with you some of the things I've done this semester. One thing I'm particularly proud of is my magazine article, "A Place to Call His Own". Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed, after some difficultly, writing it.

After losing his job two-years ago, Sean Keenahan felt lost. He copes with an intellectual disability and without the stability of his job he was struggling to see where he fit in. He knew he needed something to call his own, somewhere he could feel like he belonged.

So Keenahan decided to renew his lifelong love of sport by joining the Uptown Rollers, a Special Olympics 5-pin bowling team that practices at Academy Lanes

. Now two years later, he’s got a spot on this year’s provincial team and the excitement of an upcoming wedding to a teammate.

Growing up the friendly 43-year-old lived and breathed sports. From baseball to bowling, Keenahan enjoyed being part of a team and building friendships with his teammates.

“I like to play as much sports as possible,” said Keenahan, who reaches six feet tall and is built like a solid athlete. “I like the team atmosphere and the way we cheer on each other.”

The Special Olympics have been helping Manitobans with a wide range of intellectual disabilities for 30 years. It reaches across the province from border to border and goes as far north as Thompson. The goal is to create a community where its athletes feel a sense of belonging and build confidence so they can reach their personal potential through sport.

After only 2 years bowling at Academy Lanes, Keenahan made his way onto the provincial 5-pin bowling team for the 2010 Manitoba Winter Games in Portage la Prairie.

In order for athletes to participate in this year’s winter games they must compete in a regional tournament. Keenahan didn’t expect to compete and was caught off guard when his head coach, Yiu Lee, entered him in the event. Unlike previous regionals where any athlete over the age of 18 who met the competition criteria could sign up, they are now chosen and mentored by their head coach.

“Sean is a natural athlete,” said Lee, who’s been the Uptown Roller’s head coach since 2007. “He’s a excellent bowler with quite a high average.”

Going into regionals, Keenahan’s bowling average was 179, but he knew it wasn’t going to be easy. He had to compete against athletes from Winnipeg’s seven other Special Olympics bowling teams and place in the top three in order to make the team.

At regionals, Keenahan didn’t think he was doing very well. After checking the scoreboard near the end of his second frame he saw that he was behind many of the other players. He resigned himself to the fact he wouldn’t get to this year’s winter games, but was happy he made it to regionals. But another athlete came up to him and said he had made the team. Still Keenahan was doubtful when he heard the news.

“Really? Uptown made it second? Really?” he reminisced.

But it didn’t take long for his shock to pass and the good news to sink in.

“I’m like, ‘oh my gosh, we’re one of the top teams.’ I was really thrilled about that,” he said.

While Keenahan was surprised how well he did, his teammate, Nancy Hamilton, back at Academy Lanes had no doubt his talent and perseverance would pay off.

“I’m really happy for Sean, because he’s been working really hard,” said Hamilton, a long-time Special Olympics bowler. “I’m going to cheer for Sean because I know he can do it.”

Another person he can count to cheer him on is teammate and finance Annette Cresswell. She and Keenahan met in 2008 at a Valentine’s Day function at Coronation Lanes just after he joined the program.

“I have a disability and I wanted to meet people like me,” said 46-year-old Cresswell, lightly squeezing Keenahan as she looks up at him with wide eyes.

After dating a year, Keenahan popped the question and the pair will tie the knot in 2011. While it may be hard for them to articulate their feelings for one another Keenahan gazing at Cresswell taking her turn to bowl says it all.

Two yeas ago it may have hard for Keenahan to see how much he had to look forward to, but now he’s got a team and a fiancé who are behind him every step of the way.

“Going into provincials,” he said, “I’m hoping to do my best and do what I can for this team and for the bowling alley.”