Not Working

This morning I wanted to focus my attention on a topic that remains very near the overall theme of this blog; that would be the power of words in our vocabulary.  I will spend some time addressing them, mostly at random, but often particular words that take on a synergistic quality when coupled with other very powerfully imbued words.  As I venture into this process I realized, like it or not, there is a degree of education that comes within the framework of discussion.  In conversation it is mostly about conveying a specific understanding in a point of view.  I’ll try not to be too parochial (as in limited narrow outlook or scope, rather than being relating to church parish).  All of that meaning, I may very well be visiting the basic functions of grammar in my discussions. 
   A disclaimer is in order. In no way…ever…would I put myself out as an expert on the structure of the English/American language.  As a matter of fact, over the years, I have done more to damage the quality of literature within the confines of my native tongue than any other person I can readily think of off the top of my head. Included would be anyone who in my identifying would respond with a defamation lawsuit immediately on learning that I used them as example of behavior more abusive than my own; and that includes my son, whose love I continue to foster as desired in my advancing years. 

   Having given adequate attention to conditions in which I write, and for making sure that I keep from offending anyone or any institution or belief system unintentionally, I will continue to speak my mind as if the first Amendment to the Constitution still includes my holding divergent opinions from the conventional wisdom of the establish media or self proclaimed experts. 

   Now I’ve burned off several paragraphs in an effort to keep the waters calm and prevent flaming response comments about ‘not always’ or a list of exceptions to a rule I might inadvertently be suggesting as a law.  So let me anticipate disagreement with; It is a given, to me anyway, that there is nothing ever in an always situation.  I will get into defensive empty protest in another post, but take it for granted that in my universe, NOT-ALWAYS is a principal nearing very closely a certainty.  Not always is a logical redundancy and meaningless claim due to nearly-in-every-instance things can and are different each and every time an occurrence is predicted.  No matter the proposition there is a situation that can be conceived where a statement misses the construed condition as a possibility.  Yet, also true, is the basic definition of a proposition is that it is merely a statement; both true and untrue.  More on False, for still yet, another day.

   Having exhausted the practice of preamble, my intention is to address the word NOT. And it use as in defining a quality of absence; or if I really want to go the distance, something lacking.  Does the phrase NOT HAPPY really need clarifying?  So then NOT serves as an adjective; that part of speech, like adverbs, can perform only one function-modification- and unlike nouns, pronouns, and verbs, never change form, (able, al, ish,ly, ful et al).  Why is this so important?  Because the word changes a point of view; omitting its use affects a general practice of defining a point of view.  Just as I have intentionally kept from using NOT in any of my previous sentences.  There’s plenty of advice on how to make changes that stick, or to modify a point of view from being the subjective (filtered by a personal bias or interpretation as to how the world works) towards that of the objective (based on facts and unbiased processing of stimuli, something I’ll get to later as well), but for now, in the interest of brevity, (beyond this posting that is)of  a chosen orientation, I suggest consider this:

   Whatever can be said about seizing the day, or the moment, or the power of your life, it may be a case of will power over self imposed restrictions. This would include the habitual practice of using the word ‘not’ in respect to your goal of achieving a personal desire.  Simply stated, more awareness into how you address your day can be reassuring, to be sure.  So then,  taking out the NOT makes room for what you want.  I recall reading once, it was deemed we reside in a yes universe.  If we invoke “I am NOT happy” the universe will accommodate that vision with a corresponding ‘yes.’  A key quality of construction is deciding what NOT to include in the concept, as it were.