It’s out! 2020’s list of top searched words, according to Merriam-Webster. Ready?
Coronavirus, defund, mamba, kraken, quarantine, Antebellum, schadenfreude, asymptomatic, irregardless, icon and malarkey with “Pandemic” claiming the top spot—Woohoo! Goggle chimed in with “election results” as their top search with Zoom, unemployment, stimulus checks and how to make hand sanitizer as runner’s up.
From my wiped-down vantage point, the word or premise of “non-essential” became my 2020’s diatribe. It’s a shitty word. . .
This word, non-essential, is described as “not absolutely necessary” with ancillary undertones of unnecessary, dispensable, needless and expendable. How do you feel when someone calls you, “dispensable”? Or how does it feel when you’re described as essential, like a farmer or healthcare professional? Do you wear it like a badge of honor or with humility? Are you above someone else’s societal class or status? Does it refer to the haves and have-nots? Does it imply another sensitive word— segregation?
As an “essential”, I realized I had a bit more “pomp in my circumstance”. People need food, clean water, building materials, wildlife habitat and view-scapes which I provide. How grand of me (us) to provide such benefits to my community. My context had privilege until a non-essential parent confided in me their anxiety and stress of being scared in a lockdown trying to raise kids, provide a healthy home, work an ungratifying J-O-B trying to make ends meet and being labeled, non-essential. I got context pretty quick when tears started to flow and decided to expose this simple but complex, word play.
I’m clear: Everyone is essential in their own rite. I don’t know anyone who isn’t. To suggest someone is non-essential is stupid.
The play of essentially, non-essential seems to be a favorite for the wardens of safety and the “wordsmithians” of leadership. If you dissect, that words can hurt, can we do better? What words would be more caring and more appreciative of everyone’s contribution to our planet? Do we even need a word, labels or cliches? Something to ponder as 2021 begins.
“The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.” ~ William James
Thanks for reading GW
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