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Being ambivalent ... is having mixed feelings about something or someone ... and the feeling tones experienced are at times contradicting and opposing. That makes it doubly hard.

The feeling is just like you're caught in a rock and a hard place ... where you are in a difficult situation where you have to choose between two equally unpleasant courses of action.

Just like online shopping - the situation creates a love-hate scenario. You LOVE to browse items in Lazada and Shopee ... at the same time, you HATE it because you are forced to buy and waste your money.

Your HEART dictates you need a new dress for the coming prom night ... but your BRAIN reminds you ... you need first the money to pay your tuition for the final exam.

I can almost see an angel and the devil whispering in your ears. The devil (the greed) says "Buy it now before it is too late ..." And the angel (the conscience) countered: " Wait a minute ... first things ... first!"

To Buy Or Not To Buy

Are you a compulsive buyer? If you don't have any clue ... consider answering these questions ... they will help you gain insight into who you really are ... and what behavioral symptoms you are exhibiting.

Do you spend beyond your means? When you browse items on the internet do you have an uncontrollable urge to buy? Are the items you buy ... essential to you? Or are you buying something because your friends did? Did you encounter an episode where you asked yourself what possessed you and you bought something you don't need?

Are you on a budget? Do you consider a spending limit? Are you easily swayed by promodizers and store promoters into buying something? Is buy one take one promo your thing? Or bargain sales entice you to go out and make a spending spree? When you porchase something ... was it a mood-booster? If somebody thwarts your plan to paint the town red and spend ... does it bother you ... like you want to rebel? Are frequenting malls (visiting them even though it is not necessary) your means to escape ... from sadness ... and boredom?

If you were honest and answered YES to most of the questions ... then you have a problem. If you have an irresistible desire to buy whatever comes your way ... you listen well.

Compulsive buying refers to those with poorly controlled yearning and cravings for shopping and spending. They are self-absorbed and engrossed in visiting the mall daily... without an iota of regard as to how much they spend.

It is a chronic and repetitive purchase.  They are those people who don't have a specific shopping list (like your mom when she goes out for groceries lest they forget something important) and purchase products because that caught their fancy that day. They don't subscribe to planning ... and storming the stores as they please is not uncommon. They usually listen to recommendations and are receptive to product reviews.

Compulsive buying is almost synonymous with shopping addiction. Spending and buying is a defense mechanism ... a facade ... and a disguise to mask vulnerabilities and deflated self-esteem.

Some experts have thought of placing compulsive buying under the umbrella of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). However, some schools of thought believe that compulsive spending is somewhat akin to behavioral addiction ... others claim it is an impulse control disorder

Is compulsive buying a mental disorder? Not yet ... because it is not yet recognized by DSM and the powers that be. However, experts assert that it is a growing and nagging issue ... and it is a legitimate concern that can affect the person's financial standing and their relationship with the people around them.

Idiom Of The Day

 Let's start using idioms or idiomatic expressions when we write. When idioms are used, it add color and texture to language by creating images that convey meanings beyond those of the individual words that make them up. An idiom can be very colorful and make a 'picture' in our minds. It also shows the writer's familiarity with English. When you want to make your writing sound more conversational, including idioms can give your writing a more relaxed tone.

Idioms allow us to say a lot with few words. Idioms amplify your messages in a way that draws your readers in and helps awaken their senses. It adds dynamism and character to otherwise stale writing. They make your writing less monotonous and your readers will think that you are smart and knowledgeable. All the while ... you only clothe your writing with elaborate idioms to create an impact... saying too much with less. 

To perfect your English, you really need to become confident in using idioms and knowing the difference between breaking a leg and pulling someone's leg. So the idiom of the day is:

IDIOM: Speak Of The Devil

MEANING: It means that someone you have been talking about ... or gossiped ... unexpectedly appeared from out of the blue.

It meant that the person mentioned in the conversation happened to walk inside the room.

ORIGIN: The phrase is old and appears in various Latin and Old English texts from the 16th century.  The Italian writer Giovanni Torriano has the first recorded version in contemporary English, in Piazza Universale, 1666: "The English say, Talk of the Devil, and he's presently at your elbow."

USING IT IN A SENTENCE:  They were talking about Ariel and when he surprisingly appeared without notice everybody chorused: " Speaking of the devil..."

What does 'Speak of the Devil' mean? | English Idioms with Alex & Gina

Slip Of The Tongue ... Or Lethologica?

 An occasional slip of the tongue or a slip of the pen is normal and is quickly forgiven by the person listening or reading... that is ... if they even notice it. Even when they do, most people most of the time will recognize a slip of the tongue or pen for what it is and realize that what you meant to say or write ... is not what you did say or write.

Another blogger actually (he is one of my favorites ... (maybe because of his brave and solid stance against the enemy of the government). He made a booboo yesterday. ... I didn't call it a slip of the tongue because the guy is aware that he used a word that he feels is inappropriate or ill-suited. It is just that he can't remember the right word.

The phenomenon of not remembering the right word has happened to me lately ... and I hate it. The word is right there at the tip of my tongue ... and I just could not remember it.

I think that's what happens to the blogger. He was talking to his audience and was comparing the past and the present regime. So he mentioned "comparization" ... and being a true-blue grammar police shook me out of my wits ... and I paid attention. At the back of my mind ... I know what he meant to say was "comparison". (To our reader's benefit ... there is no such word as comparization in  English.)

A lot has been playing in my mind ... and one of them was that my favorite blogger/commentator is also capable of making blatant silly mistakes and blunders and showing he is human after all.

He felt awkward after saying the word, but he was sharp enough to recognize that something was off. So he commented immediately ... did I use the right word ... correct me if I'm wrong? he was asking his blog followers. And true enough ... one follower wrote: "Maybe you mean 'comparison". And he agrees.

LETHOLOGICA is the technical term for this type of forgetting. Like many other English terms associated with the mind, lethologica is derived from classical Greek. In this case, the Greek words are Lethe (forgetfulness) and Logos (word).

Lethologica is common among seniors and older people. It is sometimes called the "tip of the tongue phenomenon". If the word you want to say is right on the tip of your tongue, the person is aware that he knows it and can remember it sooner if not later.

It is considered a speech error (for instance, the blogger mentioned above). He has a strong feeling of knowing the target word, but unfortunately, he experiences retrieval failure.

If a person can't remember somebody's name, it is called LETHONOMIA ... that came from the Greek word Lethe (forgetfulness) and Nomina (name).

Pageant Result: Manhunt International 2024

The winners of Manhunt International 2024 from left to right: Vincenzo Melisi- Italy- Fourth Runner-Up, Kenneth Stromsnes - Philippines - Second Runner-Up, Kevin Dasom - Thailand - Manhunt International 2024 - Winner, Lucas Schlachter - France First Runner-Up, Victor Batista - Venezuela- Third Runner-Up, The pageant was held in Ayuthaya City Park in Thailand last May 26, 2024.

Hibiscus Of The Day