My Favorite Word

The Words We Choose

Did you know the average English-speaking adult wields a vocabulary of 20,000 to 35,000 words? Yet despite all those thousands of linguistic tools at our disposal, we lean heavily on the little workhorses: “the,” “be,” “to,” “of,” and “a.” It’s rather humbling, isn’t it? But among all those thousands of options, my personal favorite remains one simple, optimistic syllable: “Yes.”

I can still picture my father wielding the word “No” like a well-practiced tool—one he seemed convinced was essential to his job description as a dad. My brother and I learned quickly that permission required a two-step process: ask Mom, get redirected to Dad, and brace ourselves for the inevitable “No.” So when I became a father myself, I made a quiet vow: I would say “yes” to my children’s requests whenever I reasonably could, safety permitting. Looking back, I believe my daughter would confirm I kept that promise fairly well, and if she won’t, my wife certainly would. Even now, friends know they can count on a “yes” when they need my help.

Yet I’ve learned that wisdom lies in balance. Not every situation deserves an enthusiastic affirmation. “No” and “maybe” have their rightful places in the human vocabulary—in fact, eight of the Ten Commandments in the Holy Bible use variations of “no” or “not.” Life requires us to decline, to set boundaries, to protect what matters. I’ve noticed, though, that I naturally distance myself from people who marinate in negativity. We tend to gravitate toward those who wear their optimism openly, because yes, positivity does promote smiles, while perpetual negativity tends to carve out frowns.

Now, if you’re curious about my runner-up favorite word, I’ll confess: it’s “like.” I know there are more sophisticated alternatives—enjoy, favor, admire, prefer—and believe me, I’ve tried them all. But “like” just seems to tumble off my tongue with such effortless ease. Being a hillbilly at heart, I probably stretch it out longer than necessary, often earning a wry smile from my friends. Is it overused? Absolutely, shamefully so. I genuinely try to rein myself in, but alas, I fail more often than I succeed. Some habits, it seems, are simply too comfortable to abandon completely.

I have never, not even once, thought of myself as a poet, but here is my feeble attempt to place my thoughts in a poem:

There is a word I speak with hope.

so open, simple, quietly wise.

It’s “yes,” the promise in reply,

A gentle hand beneath heavy skies.

But lightness needs its counterpart.
A pause, a boundary, sometimes, “no.”

I’ve learned that choosing when to yield
Is the subtle art that helps me grow.

And often I reach for a comfortable sound.
that easy bridge, the word “like.”

Searching for others, none seems to hold
the warmth and fluency I truly seek.

We each arrange our lives with words.
shaped by habit and by chance.

Yet mindful choice can clear our speech
And help each moment’s meaning dance.

As can be easily noticed, I am not a poet, but this quote gives me hope: “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”… Eleanor Roosevelt