22 October 2006

Worried, Happy

I've noticed the use of a couple Spanish words that are near synonyms for English words but they are used differently here. One is preocupada (preocupado if you're a boy). It looks and sounds a bit like preoccupied. This is the word for worry. I know this because I worry and I was trying to say something I was concerned about. Estoy preocupada de...whatever. I like this word for worry, because really when I'm "worried" I'm allowing myself to be preoccupied with something that most likely I cannot control or change.

Another word that I find interesting is contenta (again change the end to and o if you're male). While if you look it up you will find it is a synonym for English's content, however, the use of it here is wider than that. It is used for content, but it's also used for sort of glad or happy. This situation was good, or I got this new scarf and -- estoy contenta. I'm happy, I'm content. I like the two ideas rolled together. Paul (as in the apostle) wrote the famous line about being content in whatever state you find yourself. In English, the idea of content, which could connote just dealing with something without complaining, all the way to pleasantly at ease with the situation, with happy, I don't associate it with happy.

So "contenta" inspires me to ask what in my life can I be content with (meaning my old perception of content) and which of those things in my life could I move into the Spanish idea of being pleased or happy with it. I am absolutely not saying we have to be happy with everything in life, but maybe we just squeeze our emotions around something that we could open up and be more content and happy with if we would stretch ourselves.

Things are not perfect. But, preoccupation may be robbing me of being contenta with more aspects of my life. What about you?

6 comments:

  1. I see what you mean. I too can get preoccupied with things and then let them rob me of contenta. I like contenta for happy, I need to remember that more often! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Preoccupied and content describe exactly how I feel when I am worried and happy, respectively. Finally, some Spanish words I can remember. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like those Spanish words. And it will be easier for me to remember also. I can relate.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Si, es verdad mi chica. Los preocupados se comen me cabeza! Pero, estoy contento porque soy loco... (Pues tu sabe este....)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ah, but who isn't un poco loco?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sadly, I dream in English. Sometimes when I'm awake in a store or at church I have nightmares in Spanish, when I can't come up with the right words or make a coherent sentence.

    ReplyDelete