I recently wrote an article about euphemisms and how they confuse conversation. I initially heard the concept when Simon Sinek and Brené Brown were talking. I loved the concept and was inspired to write an article about it. And that’s where I stopped. I didn’t know what kind of video to create to follow up on that…until I was talking with one of my coaches. She suggested that euphemisms also apply to human rights, different cultures, the genders, and different parts of the world. I don’t feel qualified to address that.
clarity
Euphemisms: Concealing Reality
As a little girl, I didn’t like the carrots we had. Maybe they were old and I didn’t know what fresh carrots tasted like, but I didn’t enjoy eating them. Knowing they were good for me, to get them down, I dipped them in Miracle Whip (I didn’t know about mayonnaise until I was an adult). Eating Brussel sprouts required a similar approach: doused in melted butter with cashews. I’m so glad I love eating carrots and Brussel sprouts today — without their “sugarcoating” to make them palatable.
Take Pride In Your Differences
There seems to be a wide array of different abilities that are seen as disabilities by able-bodied — or “normal” people — like being blind, deaf,wheelchair bound, missing a limb or part of a limb, and a wide spectrum of mental “conditions” like bipolar, schizophrenia, autism, Aspergers, depression, dyslexia — and ADD. A “disorder” (the last D in ADD or ADHD) is seen as something that is broken in someone, rather than it being seen as an indication of different, sometimes even superior, abilities.