How To Spiral Up

"Good friends aren't afraid of your light.
They never blow out your flame.
And you don't blow out theirs."

~ Brené Brown, Atlas Of The Heart

Hello, beauties!

As the humidity builds, and the population of our resort town swells, I appreciate this air-conditioned moment to reflect and write.

Thank you for meeting me here; I am grateful for our connection. 

Some of know I used to teach middle school and high school English. And yes, I proudly identify as a word geek. The New York Times Spelling Bee and WORDLE have been delightful additions to my daily routine. 

So, I have to admit, when I first read the word "freudenfreude," I definitely perked up.

Hmmmmm. I know the word Schadenfreude comes from German. 

• Schaden: meaning damage or harm 
• Freude: meaning joy. 
• Schadenfreude: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others.
• Or, put another way: the unattractive human tendency to take pleasure in the misery of others.
• UGH!

This is a word I hear used by news commentators, pundits, analysts, and others. While not entirely common, definitely a word that has made its way into mainstream English usage. 

But, Freudenfreude? This was a first for me. 

A quick online search via Merriam-Webster should easily solve this one. 

Wait? What??

Freudenfreude hasn't made it into the dictionary?

Alright. Back to my years of high school German. (Thank you, Herr Wolfert, for putting up with me!) And, a little more scouring on the internet. 

Freudenfreude:

• taking joy in other people's successes;
• the lovely enjoyment of another person's success.

To learn how to SPIRAL UP and practice Freudenfreude, keep reading . . .