Summary

The article reflects on the concept of identifying oneself as a verb, inspired by Buckminster Fuller's notion of being an evolutionary process, and concludes with the author's choice to embody the verb "to encourage."

Abstract

The author engages with a challenge posed by Desiree Driesenaar to consider what verb one would be, drawing inspiration from Buckminster Fuller's idea that he is not a noun but a verb, an integral function of the universe. The author contemplates several verbs that resonate with personal values and activities, such as writing, reading, connecting, enjoying, and loving. Each verb is explored with personal anecdotes and reflections, emphasizing the joy and meaning derived from these actions. Ultimately, the author selects "to encourage" as the most representative verb, highlighting the importance of daily encouragement, especially in challenging times, and outlines various ways to encourage others within the Medium/Illumination community, such as clapping, highlighting, responding, citing, and featuring work. The article concludes by inviting readers to share their own verb and rationale, underscoring the interconnectedness of giving and receiving encouragement.

Opinions

The author finds deep fulfillment in writing, viewing it as a divine experience when the right words are found.
Reading is cherished for the intellectual stimulation and sense of connection it provides, often leading to profound realizations and enjoyment of the written word as a form of music.
Connecting with others, especially through reading and writing, is seen as a way to affirm shared humanity and foster a sense of unity.
Enjoyment, particularly in the simplicity of life, is considered crucial for appreciating existence despite its inherent hardships.
Encouraging others is presented as both a personal passion and a broader calling, with the author striving to excel in this area.
The

If I were a verb, what verb would I be?

Read the story to find out.

Desiree Driesenaar threw down the gauntlet and I couldn’t resist picking it up. She said

To laugh is my choice of verb.

What is yours?

Let’s All Be a Verb

Buckminster Fuller stated it clearly. “I seem to be a verb.” I love the idea of being a verb. What verb would you wanna…

medium.com

She then offered the following quote to set the stage and show the source of the inspiration:

“I live on Earth at present, and I don’t know what I am. I know that I am not a category. I am not a thing — a noun. I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary process — an integral function of the universe.”

— R. Buckminster Fuller (1970)

As I considered what verb I’d be, several stood up and took a bow.

TO WRITE came first.

I love to write. It provides with meaning and purpose. To tap the keys and see words spill out across the screen fills my heart with joy. And, when the just-right word comes to me, I feel a bit of the Divine seeping in.

TO READ bowed in next.

I love to read and learn what others think. Sometimes I find that I’m not such an odd duck after all. Other times I have to stop and wonder. I love reading that makes me think and appreciate life. I enjoy seeing the words they choose and how they orchestrate them into a symphony. What wonderful music some do play.

Strongly associated with to read is

TO CONNECT — I love connecting with other readers and writers, especially if the connection leads to a deeper, lasting relationship. It helps me realize that I am not alone and helps me to know that we are all one.

TO ENJOY — The enjoyment of life seems to me most important. Sure life entails hardships, but if we look for the joy, we will find it. I look for joy in the small things. Recently, I wrote of the joy created by a single leaf on some boards.

Simple Beauty

The Beauty of Simplicity

medium.com

TO ENCOURAGE — I love to encourage others to write, to share, to be themselves.

TO LOVE — The Greeks say there are three kinds of love: eros or romantic love, philos or brotherly love, and agape or altruism or charity — the love we feel when we give freely. If you want to read more about the three kinds of love check out this site:

3 Types of Love: Eros, Agape, and Philos

They say you never forget your first love-and for most of us, this might be true. But there are many of us who wonder…

www.zoosk.com

But, if I have to choose just one, it will be

TO ENCOURAGE

The Bible tells us to encourage one another daily, so long as it is called today. Especially in these trying times we need all the encouragement we can get, don’t we? I know I do. Maybe that’s why I like to encourage: you give the thing you want to receive.

I’m trying each day to become a better encourager. Often, I encourage by sharing something about myself in hopes that my vulnerability will entice the reader to be more open. It is a technique I’ve been practicing for over 20 years and it usually works pretty well. I’ve learned to be open with others. When I open up and share something personal, it gives the reader an opening.

So how does one encourage another? What encourages you? Here on Medium/Illumination, we can encourage one another with five tools. The first three are clapping, highlighting and responding. I’m sure you know all about them, but let me elaborate a bit on how and why I use them.

Clapping

While the number of claps no longer matters much for earnings, it does show others how much we like a story. Presumably, as with real applause, the longer it lasts, the more claps, the better we like it. Fifty claps shows maximum appreciation. I often give 21 claps. I equate it to a 21-gun salute (I know not all will get that, but for a time I served as the Officer in Charge of the honor guard that provided military honors at the funerals of deceased military men and women. Part of the ceremony involved a 21-gun salute.) To receive a 21-gun salute is considered a high honor in the military.

Highlighting

I do not like to highlight unless something really stirs me. I generally do not highlight poems unless a verse really jumps out at me and I want to comment on it.

The Response — Commenting

I love to comment. You can encourage an author by telling them what their work means to you, how it touched you, what memories it dredged up, what inspiration you found in it. Though a simple “thank you” is often enough, if you share more deeply, a conversation or dialogue often ensues that can be rewarding for both you and the author. Commenting is one way of connecting with the author. You may have a question or need further clarification. If so, let the writer know. If you put a lot of work into a piece, hearing from readers helps make it worthwhile.

Citations

A fourth way to encourage others is to cite their work in your writing. We all do that: we provide a link to something someone else has written. You can also tag them and others with the familiar “@…” to let the person or others know what you are writing.

Featuring or Writing a Testimonial

You can feature the work of a writer in stories you write. You can even write a story showcasing the work of another writer. I’ve done that a couple of times and really enjoyed doing it. I recently joined the Rhombus publication whose main purpose is to highlight the work of other writers.

Encouragement requires a combination of philos and agape love. Of course, we give expecting nothing in return. Surprisingly, when we do that, we often find that we get much more than we give. Others tend to reply in kind. If you want to build a following, become a good follower: read, clap, highlight and respond.

Encouraging others is my passion. Like writing, I feel compelled to do it. I’d go so far as to say I think it is the reason we are here on earth. And, as I said, the amazing thing about encouragement is that the more of it we give, the more we receive.

Now the balls in your court. What verb would you be? Write and tell us what it would be and why.

Happy Reading, Writing Encouraging and Connecting!