Words Have Histories, Just Like People

* A Reflective Essay as I Approach My 92nd Birthday *

Part 1. Twenty English Words and Their Ancestry

English is sometimes described as a Germanic language with a substantial Latin and French vocabulary. The following 20 words illustrate how these different linguistic traditions have enriched our language.

The origins below are simplified explanations of each word's historical ancestry.

A. Words with Latin Roots

Latin was the language of ancient Rome. Through education, religion, science, and scholarship, Latin has had an enormous influence on English.

Word	Meaning	Origin
1. Wisdom	Knowledge and good judgment	Old English wisdom, with Germanic roots; included here as a contrast
2. Memory	The ability to remember	Latin memoria
3. Education	The process of learning	Latin educatio
4. Knowledge	Understanding or awareness	Old English cnāwlece, Germanic
5. Liberty	Freedom	Latin libertas
6. Virtue	Moral goodness	Latin virtus
7. Mortality	The condition of being subject to death	Latin mortalitas

B. Words with French Roots

After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, French profoundly influenced English. Many words associated with government, law, food, art, and social life entered English through French.

Word	Meaning	Origin
8. Courage	Bravery in facing difficulties	Old French corage
9. Beauty	Quality of being beautiful	Old French beauté
10. Journey	Traveling from one place to another	Old French jornee
11. Memory	The ability to remember	Latin through French
12. Restaurant	An establishment serving meals	French restaurant
13. Legacy	Something handed down from the past	Old French legacie
14. Wisdom	Good judgment and understanding	Old English, Germanic

C. Words with Germanic Roots

Germanic languages are the historical foundation of English. Many of the words we use for everyday activities, relationships, and emotions come from this linguistic family.

Word	Meaning	Origin
15. Home	A place where one lives	Old English hām
16. Love	Deep affection	Old English lufu
17. Friend	A person with whom we share affection and trust	Old English frēond
18. Life	The condition of being alive	Old English līf
19. Hope	Expectation and desire for something good	Old English hopa
20. Death	The end of life	Old English dēaþ

A small historical observation: English words do not always have just one simple ancestry. Some traveled through several languages before arriving in English. For example, many words with Latin origins entered English through French.

Part 2. My Reflective Essay

A Reflective Essay as I Approach My 92nd Birthday

As I approach my 92nd birthday next month, I find myself reflecting on many things. My memories of childhood in the Philippines, my years as a student, my professional career, my family, my travels, and the many people who have crossed my path during this long journey called life.

Recently, I became interested in something we often take for granted: the English language.

Have you ever wondered why some English words sound distinctly Latin, others French, and still others Germanic? Why do we have so many different words to express similar thoughts and feelings?

The English language is a fascinating mixture of linguistic influences. It is a language that has borrowed, adapted, and evolved over many centuries.

A Language with Many Ancestors

English began primarily as a Germanic language. Its earliest foundations came from the languages spoken by Germanic tribes who settled in Britain. That is why many simple, everyday English words, such as home, love, life, friend, hope, and death, have Germanic origins.

Then came the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. French became the language of the English ruling class, government, and much of the legal and administrative world. Over time, thousands of French words entered English.

That is why we have words such as courage, beauty, journey, restaurant, and legacy.

Latin contributed another enormous vocabulary, particularly through religion, education, science, medicine, philosophy, and scholarship.

Words such as education, liberty, virtue, memory, and mortality remind us of the enduring influence of ancient Rome.

It is fascinating to realize that when we speak English today, we are using a language shaped by several civilizations and centuries of human history.

Words and the Passage of Time

As I look at the words themselves, I find that some have a deeper meaning for me now than they did when I was younger.

Take the word education. When I was a young student at the University of the Philippines, education represented opportunity. It opened doors that I could hardly have imagined as a young boy growing up in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

My education eventually took me to the University of Illinois, where I earned my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. It also brought me to a professional career in the pharmaceutical industry and later to the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Looking back, education was more than acquiring knowledge. It changed the direction of my life.

Then there is memory. At my age, memory has become particularly precious. I sometimes revisit childhood experiences, my years in college, my professional accomplishments, and especially the years I shared with my late wife, Macrine.

Some memories are vivid, while others have become a little blurred around the edges. But I have learned that memories are not merely records of the past. They are part of who we are today.

The word love also carries a special meaning. More than 63 years of marriage cannot be adequately described in a few sentences. Love is not simply romance or the excitement of youth. It is companionship, patience, sacrifice, forgiveness, and being there for someone through the difficult seasons of life.

And then there is legacy.

I have reached an age when I think less about what I have accumulated and more about what I can leave behind. My children, grandchildren, and two great-grandsons are an important part of that legacy.

Perhaps my continuing interest in writing and blogging is another small contribution. Since 2009, I have written about science, technology, Philippine culture, aging, family, and the many things that make life interesting. I am grateful that readers from different parts of the world have taken the time to read my thoughts.

The Words That Matter Most

Among the 20 words I have selected, there are six that particularly resonate with me as I approach 92.

• Wisdom – Not simply knowing many things, but learning from our mistakes and experiences.

• Courage – Finding the strength to face life's uncertainties, including the challenges that come with aging.

• Friendship – Appreciating the people who make our journey less difficult and more meaningful.

• Hope – Continuing to look forward, even when the future is uncertain.

• Life – Recognizing that every day, regardless of age, is an opportunity to experience something worthwhile.

• Mortality – Accepting that life has an ending, while appreciating the time we have been given.

At nearly 92, I am increasingly aware that time is perhaps our most valuable possession. We cannot recover yesterday, and none of us knows how many tomorrows remain.

But I do not consider growing old a reason to stop being curious.

I still enjoy a good game of Bridge, conversations with friends, discovering interesting subjects, watching films, and exploring how artificial intelligence is changing our world. I may no longer have the energy of my younger years, but my curiosity remains very much alive.

Perhaps that is one of the secrets of aging: keeping the mind interested in the world around us.

A Final Reflection

Words have histories, just like people. They travel across generations, acquire new meanings, and become part of the lives of those who use them.

The English language itself is a legacy of many civilizations. Its richness comes from its willingness to borrow and learn from others.

Perhaps there is a lesson here for all of us.

We, too, are products of different experiences, cultures, relationships, successes, failures, and encounters. Each of these has contributed something to the person we have become.

As I prepare to celebrate my 92nd birthday, I am reminded that growing older does not mean that our story is finished. There are still words to discover, ideas to explore, people to appreciate, and memories to preserve.

I may be approaching 92, but I am not finished learning.

And as long as I can still put my thoughts into words, I hope to continue sharing a little wisdom, a few memories, and perhaps an occasional smile with my readers around the world.

After all, age adds years to our lives, but curiosity adds life to our years.

AI Impressions and Suggestions for My Birthday Writing Series

Part 3. A Suggestion for MY  birthday series

I particularly like the possibility of turning this reflection into a small series called:

"Words of Wisdom at 92: Reflections on Life, Language and Time."

You could explore several interesting words in subsequent posts:

• Nostalgia – Why we cherish memories of the past.

• Serendipity – The unexpected discoveries that enrich our lives.

• Resilience – How we recover from life's disappointments.

• Gratitude – Why appreciating what we have matters more as we age.

• Ephemeral – The fleeting nature of life and time.

• Eudaimonia – An ancient Greek concept of human flourishing and living a meaningful life.

One final thought: I would retain the title Words Have Histories, Just Like People. It captures the central message beautifully.

At nearly 92, you have accumulated something much more valuable than a dictionary of words: a lifetime of experiences that give those words meaning.

What makes this particular posting special is that it is not simply about the English language or the origins of 20 words. It is about a lifetime of experiences viewed through the wisdom of nearly 92 years.

Your journey from Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, to the University of the Philippines, the University of Illinois, your FDA career, your family life with Macrine, and now your continuing adventures in blogging and exploring AI gives the essay an authenticity that no dictionary can provide.

I particularly love your closing thought:

"Age adds years to our lives, but curiosity adds life to our years."

That is a wonderful birthday message, not just for you, but for readers of every age and from every corner of the world.

Keep writing! Your story is still unfolding. And I hope we will have many more blog posts to celebrate before and after your 92nd birthday. 😊

AI Overview: 

Every word carries a hidden biography, shaped by migration, shifting cultures, and the everyday lives of the people who spoke it. 

Just like people, words travel across borders, take on new jobs, shed old habits, and sometimes hide their literal beginnings behind a modern pronunciation.

How Words Live and Change

• They migrate and adapt. Languages constantly borrow from one another through trade, exploration, and cultural exchange. Everyday English words like chocolate, tomato, and barbecue traveled from Indigenous languages of the Americas into global vocabulary. 
• They evolve with human beliefs. Words often preserve outdated science or folklore. For instance, users on Quora frequently point out that lunatic comes from the Latin lunaticus("moonstruck"), reflecting an ancient belief that the cycles of the moon caused madness.
• They disguise their literal roots. Over centuries, fast speech blurs compound words until we forget what they actually say. As contributors on Reddit's r/etymology communitynote, a cupboard was literally a board for cups, breakfast was simply breaking a night's fast, and goodbye began as the phrase "God be with ye". 
• They are sometimes born in a single moment. While most words grow organically, others have an exact birthdate. Authors and thinkers regularly coin terms—like pandemonium or serendipity—that capture a new idea so well that generations adopt them. 

If you enjoy exploring how language captures human experience, books like The Wordspotter's Guide and Word Origins ... and How We Know Them dive deep into the detective work behind these linguistic biographies.

My Photo of the Day-Willie- My Friend's Pet Dog

Hi David,

I know you are a pet owner and attached deeply to Batman and Robin so I am sharing this news with you.

On Tuesday my beloved Willie passed away. We had many great experiences together including time at THD. 

I have attached an in memory of Willie tribute.  If you feel compelled to share with any residents or on your blog please don't hesitate to do so. 

I sincerely hope you are well.. I read your blog daily. Michael 

A Human-Centered Style of Management

This Posting is inspired from latest observation and the last six-month experiences residing here at THD

In this season of my life, I have come to value something that cannot be measured on a spreadsheet: the way people are treated. Living in an active senior community has reminded me that a place can have excellent accounting, efficient operations, and polished reports, yet still feel cold if the human side of management is neglected. The numbers matter, but they are not the heart of the matter.

What matters most, at least in my experience, is whether people feel seen. Do staff members greet residents with patience and respect? Are concerns heard without defensiveness? Are decisions explained in a way that acknowledges the people affected by them? These may seem like small things, but in daily life they shape the emotional atmosphere of an entire community.

Lately, I have noticed a hopeful shift in our own community. There is a growing awareness that this is not simply a business, but a home for real people living real lives. That understanding changes everything. It creates room for dignity, for better communication, and for a more compassionate style of leadership. When management begins to think this way, the community feels less like an institution and more like a place where people belong.

I find this especially meaningful in a senior community. At this stage of life, many of us are more aware of how much human kindness matters. A respectful tone, a patient explanation, a thoughtful response to a concern, these are not luxuries. They are signs that people still matter, even in systems driven by efficiency and responsibility.

I have long believed that the best organizations are not those that only know how to count people, but those that know how to care for them. Human-centered management does not reject discipline or financial prudence. It simply insists that those things should serve people, not replace them. It understands that trust, loyalty, and morale are not sentimental extras; they are part of what makes a community strong.

That is why I welcome this transition in our community. Our previous management style was cold and emotionally detached. This shifts in management  reflects maturity, wisdom, and a better understanding of what success really means. A place is not truly successful if it runs smoothly on paper but leaves people feeling invisible. The deeper success is when people feel respected, heard, and valued.

In the end, that is what I hope for in any community, and especially in this chapter of my life: not perfection, but decency; not only efficiency, but kindness; not merely management, but genuine care. 

Is THD currently managed in a human-centered style? Let me hear from you, fellow THD residents. 

Let me end this posting with the following quotes: 

• A community is strongest when it remembers that people are not numbers, but neighbors.

• Efficiency may keep a place running, but kindness is what makes it feel like home.

• The best leadership is the kind that never forgets the human being behind the role.

  Previously Posted Related Articles:  

  https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2025/10/an-example-of-micromanagement-note-from.html

  https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-effects-of-micromanagement-my.html

  
  
  
  AI Overview: 
  Human-centered management is a leadership style that prioritizes people-including employees, customers, and other stakeholders-over traditional business metrics like revenue and efficiency. This approach operates on the belief that when individuals feel valued, supported, and fulfilled, organizational success naturally follows.
  Core Principles
  The foundation of this management style is built on several key human-centric behaviors: 
  • Empathy and Compassion: Leaders actively listen and seek to understand the unique needs, motivations, and life circumstances of their team members. Experts from Harvard Business Publishing emphasize that this requires a disciplined approach to choosing behaviors appropriate for each individual's context.
  • Psychological Safety: Managers create environments where employees feel safe to share ideas, take risks, and even fail without fear of punishment. 
  • Authenticity and Transparency: Leaders lead with purpose and vulnerability, sharing information about company goals and challenges to build mutual trust. 
  • Empowerment and Autonomy: Moving away from command-and-control models, managers provide guidance while trusting teams to make their own decisions. Organizations can learn more about these shifts through resources provided by the BRM Institute, which highlights the importance of inspiring clarity about a company's purpose.
  • Key Skills for Human-Centered Leaders
  According to IDEO U, human-centered leadership is not a fixed personality but a learnable practice involving six core skills:
  1. Curiosity: Approaching challenges with an open mindset of possibility.
  2. Collaboration: Co-creating strategies rather than giving orders.
  3. Adapting to Ambiguity: Remaining effective in uncertain or rapidly changing environments.
  4. Experimentation: Encouraging a culture of quick prototyping and learning.
  5. Self-Awareness: Understanding how one's own emotions and biases impact others.
  6. Maintaining Momentum: Using storytelling and purpose to sustain focus during difficult periods. 
  Benefits for Organizations
  Adopting this paradigm shift can lead to significant competitive advantages:
  • Higher Engagement: Employees are 37% more likely to report high engagement when reporting to a human-centric leader.
  • Increased Innovation: Inclusive environments tap into the "collective wisdom" of diverse teams, driving creative problem-solving.
  • Resilience: Teams rooted in trust are better equipped to navigate disruptions and burnout.
  • Retention: By addressing well-being and growth, companies attract and keep top talent more effectively. The Institute of Project Management notes that these practices help create "synergistic relationships" where both the individual and the organization benefit

  • Finally, My Quotes of the Day:  

    “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

    Dr. Seuss

     

    “Stay away from people who make you feel like you are hard to love.”

    Anonymous