Two Latin Phrases and What They Mean to Me

I really think learning some Latin would bring about good things both in my native language, English, and my second language, Spanish.

I own a book about Latin and have learned a few words that have helped me to expand my vocabulary. I'm kind of a word freak, I love being able to learn and use new words. Also, looking at medical terminology, I have learned Latin and Greek word parts that have made me feel a little smarter....

Ok, so here's the first phrase:

Dum spiro, spero. While I breathe, I hope.

Hope is the thing that keeps me going. I am a very kind and intelligent person, but sometimes I am very worried, very stressed, and very hard on myself. Some of this is from the fact that I have low self esteem, but I think part of it is also my relationship with God. I am aware of how perfect God is and how imperfect I am. From the time I was a little kid, I have had a guilty conscience. My parents say that I punished myself when I did something. Weird, huh?

I think my relationship with God leaves something to be desired. I am a person who knows I'm not able to do it all, but it is hard for me to give up control even though I know that God knows all, can do all, and will care for me in a way that is best for me. I am working on trusting him more.

Hope is not only the name of the church I have gone to for years, but it is the thing that keeps me going when life attempts to give me a kick in the rear end.

I am getting a lot from Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle and studying her life. I feel like she was very human in spite of experiencing God in very special ways.

Right now God has sent me a lot of peace but also some challenges as well. I know that the events of the world's horrible way of doing things will keep on going until the world ends, but I know that God can give me internal peace and keep me hoping for something better in my life and in my soul. I consider hoping for peace one of my main goals in life. As long as I'm breathing I am hoping.

Cogito ergo sum. I think, therefore I am.

I feel very blessed to be very intellectual. Some people would look at the words nerdy or geeky as bad. I take those as compliments. I have been crowned (my mom calls me this) "The Queen of Useless Information." It has a use to me, making me feel knowledgeable and just giving me a pleasant smile to know and think about things!

I have experienced some environments in my life where people showed themselves to have academics much lower on their priorities than they were on mine. In high school I am sure a ton of people put sports, boyfriends/girlfriends, drugs, sex above being successful in school. In college it was the same. I made a point of being around positive people who didn't partake in negative behaviors.

I know there is more to life than academics. It is necessary to have love and friendship in your life. My life would be very cold and boring without learning!

It is with the group of people I got to know senior year of high school and beyond - Quiz Bowl - that really made me feel like I was able to be myself. We differed a bit in personality, but to this day I am still in contact with some of my Quiz Bowl friends. It is the feeling that being with these people - acceptance - that I seek in my professional life as perhaps a future professor. I also seek that in my personal life. I want friends who accept me and who I accept for who they are. Some day, God willing, I want a boyfriend/husband that epitomizes this (and is other things too, things that help me to be a better me!)

I've gone a bit astray from what I had intended to say, but I think what I've said has been good. Point is, I don't know where I'd be if thinking, knowledge, and education weren't a part of my life. I feel very fortunate to have been given an education that encourages me to think, to question, to find more about this world we live in.

I know not all people are like this. I just want to find some nerdy friends to let me be as I am!