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Here's to whelm! Joyous holidays to you.

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Thanks, Nancy! And to you!

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Very interesting. Love the term "verbal paper chain". I hadn't thought about the word whelm before. Cf combobulated, which u never hear, only discombobulated. It means together. Anyway, don't whirl too hard!

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Thanks, Terry! I love those words that only exist in the negative - they're a subject for a forthcoming post, in fact. I wish that 'gruntled' were actually a word.....!

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I never thought about the word whelm before, I'm going to use it more often now. Thankyou! Also, I do hope you've dealt satisfactorily with your (troublesome?) soup.

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I love your interpretation of the word whelm, Rebecca. This year, I am being spoiled by my daughter and am looking forward to taking a back seat. Happy Christmas to one and all 🎄🎉🙏❤️

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Sounds absolutely perfect, Rosy - there's always a different view from the back seat! Enjoy! 😊

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How wonderful! It’s nice to be spoiled sometimes. Enjoy!

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Interesting topic! I think that the concept of flow aligns with whelm. Flow is a state of focus and absorption where you are using your abilities in a just challenging enough way to feel satisfied and fulfilled with your work. Check the book named Flow for more details.

I've had a similar thought about the suffix -cision. It's not a word on its own yet it feels like it should be.

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Thanks, Mark - I'll check out 'Flow' to see how it relates. It's funny - when I started brainstorming this post I had THOUGHT that I'd felt 'whelm' sat bang in the middle of 'underwhelm' and 'overwhelm' - and then realised that it doesn't. Funny how much just writing something down makes me think about it!

Interesting point re -cision! More food for thought!

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This week has been a week of nearing the overwhelm mark, and my first reaction now that I’ve found myself with a day with no demands is to be completely underwhelmed. But I know better. Catching up on my reading list is a fun task, but still a task--so that will get done today. I’m also going to cook a roast because if I don’t, we won’t have those delicious leftovers to eat for a few days.

The next week will be markedly less busy, but I have adult kids coming home for the weekend (yay!) and things that need doing. I think I’ll shoot for being whelmed this week so everything will get done before their arrival--no one likes an overwhelmed mom on Christmas weekend.😉

Also, LOVED the German compound words! Thanks for another enjoyable post!

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Thanks, Holly - so glad you enjoyed my post!

It's not always a relief to come down from overwhelm, is it - especially when you land right at the other end of the spectrum! I love that you're shooting for whelmed this week - that's EPIC!

I'm cooking a roast right now, actually! A chunk of brisket in the slow-cooker for supper this evening - leftovers will make at least one meal for two next week, PLUS a week's worth of soup lunches for Jim. I LOVE leftovers!

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I’m making “Kalua Pork” in the Instant Pot! Our leftovers will keep us in business for a couple of days, and we’ll freeze the rest. I like to use the meat for veggie nachos (use mini sweet peppers as the “chips” then top with shredded pork and other delicious toppings), BBQ pork stuffed potatoes, “Philly cheesesteak” wraps with lettuce instead of bread, and rice bowls with pineapple salsa. I love that I can add different seasonings and sauces to stretch the pork into many different meals with little effort!

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Oh WOW! Sounds delicious!

My darling husband has just asked me in a weak voice whether it's time for me to put the veg on....! Time to go and cook!

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Dec 17, 2022Liked by Rebecca Holden

I absolutely cracked up at the German lesson. I loved the concrete examples. I understand your position here, Rebecca, somewhere between overwhelmed and underwhelmed. As for me, my life has fallen into chronic and acute sloth. But there are perks in that too. HINT: I have discovered that if I neglect cleaning my house, the dust doesn't get any worse after four years. That is my gift to you. Happy Christmas to you and to all those who love you across there in the beautiful UK.

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LOL - I love the 'sloth' analogy, Sharron!

I heard a delightful quote about dust once - one member of a very elderly couple, when complimented on the lack of dust in their immaculate home, said: 'No, we don't move fast enough to make any'! I thought that was wonderful!

Happy Christmas to you, too - thank you so much!

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Dec 17, 2022Liked by Rebecca Holden

Oh - another language shift. Ruthless. A common enough word. But there used to be RUTH people as well, meaning kind, helpful, generous, But now we can only be ruthless. What does that say about us?

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Gosh, that's telling, isn't it?

Have you ever read the 'Swallows and Amazons' books by Arthur Ransome? Such beautiful books - my parents read us a chapter a night (of the entire canon!) when we were small. The real name of one of the two young Blackett sisters in the pirate boat 'Amazon' was actually Ruth, but she changed her name to Nancy when she was told that pirates were ruthless!

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Oh!

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The trick is finding that elusive medium.

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In all aspects of life, right? Hard to find sometimes! 😃 Hoping to find the right balance in there somewhere!

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The cycles of human existence - Underwhelm whelm Overwhelm... and round again... I’d be fine spending some time in whelm I think... you are so right over whelm is everywhere... there’s a pandemic of it really. Much love to you for your Christmas break! Thanks for your writing this year. 🙏✨

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Thanks, Claire - and to you! Here's to a fabulous 2023, and lots more writing for all of us! You're absolutely right - the cycle of over- and underwhelm can be, well, overwhelming!

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🌀 ✨🙏🌷

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Attention vowel-lovers! The Germans have nothing on the Finns: the longest word in the Finnish language is “Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas,” an airplane jet turbine engine auxiliary mechanic non-commissioned officer student.

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Oh, that's EPIC, Amy! That's going down in my notebook RIGHT NOW!

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That's one long word. I would hate to have to figure out how to pronounce it. 😀

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Happy Christmas Rebecca! May your 2023 be free of Überwältigend 😃

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Herzlichen Dank, Bryn! Right back atcha!!! 🎄

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Dec 18, 2022Liked by Rebecca Holden

Have a very Merry Christmas, Rebecca, and keep treading water! :)

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And you, Mark - thanks so much! Sink or swim, right?!

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I’m definitely the kind of person that gets bothered by overwhelm. I like to keep busy but more and more I notice that I need my quiet time. Time to just be. And I’m ok with that.

I had to chuckle when I started reading. German is my first language and we’ve had many a laugh in my family about certain German words.

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LOL - I hope there weren't too many mistakes in there, Susi - my German is pretty rusty these days! Trotzdem wünsche ich Dir ein fröhliches Weihnachtsfest und einen guten Rutsch ins Jahr 2023! 🎄

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Danke dir! Das wünsche ich dir und deinen auch! 🎄

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😊

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Dec 18, 2022Liked by Rebecca Holden

I could go for some whelm! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Rebecca! 🎄☃️❤️

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And to you, Amy - thank you! Seize that whelm!

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Thanks for the lesson on 'whelm.' I used to be overwhelmed by the holidays...working full-time, raising a family, etc. Thankfully, it's much calmer now...Wishing you a wonderful Christmas!

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And to you - thank you! And yes to some calm!

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