Achievement /əˈCHēvm(ə)nt/ noun an accomplishment attained through hard work Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. – Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945)

Appreciation /əˌprēSHēˈāSHən/ noun grateful recognition The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them. -G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Resourceful /rəˈsôrsf(ə)l/ adjective 1. having the ability to achieve a purpose or fulfill a function with one’s own ingenuity; enterprising I am too intelligent, too demanding, and too resourceful for anyone to be able to take charge of me entirely. -Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) 2. having the skill and consciousness to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. Like a wild animal, the... Read More

Variety /vəˈrīədē/ noun 1. a mix of different elements that creates variation and avoids monotony Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor. – The Task (1875) by William Cowper (1731-1800) 2. multiple examples from the same general type, each varying in quality or form Whoever wants to tell a variety of stories ought to have a variety of... Read More

Alchemy /ˈalkəmē/ noun 1. A medieval precursor to chemistry, aimed at transforming ordinary substances into gold and creating an elixir of immortality The transmutation of the elements was pursued in medieval laboratories in a quest called alchemy. – Cosmos (1980) by Carl Sagan (1934-1996) 2. A seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination The beautiful souls of the world have an art of saintly alchemy, by which bitterness is... Read More

Academic /ˌakəˈdemik/ adjective/noun adjective 1. related to formal education That I was not suited to commerce or academic study in no way proves that I should also be unfit to be a painter. – Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) 2. Focused on theoretical learning and scholarship rather than practical application The most dangerous thing about an academic education is that it enables my tendency to... Read More

Poison /ˈpoizn/ noun/verb noun a toxic substance that could be fatal if swallowed Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies. – Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) verb to kill with toxic chemicals Anger repressed can poison a relationship as surely as the crudest words. – Joyce Brothers (1927-2013)

Scapegoat /ˈskāpˌɡōt/ noun someone who is blamed for the actions of others The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions. – Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)

Bibliophile /ˈbi-blē-ə-ˌfī(-ə)l/ noun a lover of books, often a collector To a bibliophile, there is but one thing better than a box of new books, and that is a box of old ones. Some Danger Involved (2004), by Will Thomas (1958 – )

Farce /färs/ noun 1. a type of comedy that relies on absurd, highly improbable situations, exaggerated characters, and physical humor Farce treats the improbable as probable, the impossible as possible. – Professor George Pierce Baker (1866-1935) 2. a ridiculous or absurd situation or event Life’s a farce, so we might as well make it a good one. – Shūji Tsushima (1909-1948)