"Virtually" is not a Synonym for "Literally"

In the past week, I have noticed on three occasions, people using "virtually" incorrectly.

I try not to be a grammar snob, because I know I am not perfect with the English language.

However, I do not ever try to sound smarter than I am.

There has been a lot of flak recently about people misusing "literally." I can only assume that this sudden rise in the use of "virtually" is an attempt to continue using an adverb.

Literally and virtually do NOT mean the same thing. "Virtually" is like a measurement – it means “almost.”

Unless, you have the goggles on and you are virtually doing something like petting a dog. Then it’s the OPPOSITE of literally, but it isn’t quite figuratively either. It’s an alternate reality - it's virtual.

vir·tu·al·ly

ˈvərCHə(wə)lē/

adverb

    1. nearly; almost.

    "virtually all those arrested were accused"

    synonyms: effectively, in effect, all but, more or less, practically, almost, nearly, close to, verging on, just about, as good as, essentially, to all intents and purposes, roughly, approximately, pretty much, pretty well;

"the building is virtually empty"

    2. by means of virtual reality techniques.

I am Not Broken Like I Used to Be

I read this book recently about the tales of a crack addict. The tales of well-educated, successful young gent who chose crack over all else for a long time. There was a point in the book when he had copious amounts of crack in his hotel room and he had jugs of vodka and he had a bottle of pills he intended to consume. And when reading this sordid account of a well-educated, successful young gent's untimely demise, I had an epiphany.

I'm not broken like I used to be.
I'm not broken at all, actually.
I used to be, though.
A terrible mess, really.
I'm not broken like I once was.
I'm light and free and punch drunk love.
I still get tweaky and squeaky and scared,
But He calms me and I know I'm spared.
I'm not broken.
I'm repaired.

By the grace of God, I'm not broken like I used to be.

And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my grace comes in the form of Christopher David Broussard. A line from the same book put it all together for me.

“...he loved me…knowing what he knew, seeing what he’d seen, putting up with what he chose to put up with, he was the only one who ever could. The question I never asked was why.”

God gave me the gift of Christopher's love, because I needed real-life unconditional love in order to truly understand that I am forgiven. And I guess, I picked up that random crack addict story while perusing the bargain bin, because God wanted me to see that I am not broken like I used to be.

#BringBackOurGirls An Open Letter to Senator Rand Paul

I am not an activist by any stretch of the definition. I don't typically take up to fighting for anything. In my own world, I try to make healthy choices (down with Monsanto!), and I try to raise my kids with integrity and responsibility (down with helicopter parents!). I try to have a healthy, happy marriage (down with divorce!), and I try to do my work as thought I am working for the Lord (down with entitlement!). I do all of these things, because I think they are choices that are best for me. I can't save the world, but I can impact the world around me.

That said, today I wrote a letter to my senator. I deplore you, please write one to your senator too. Or to POTUS or to your newspaper editor. Anybody who could potentially be a catalyst to save these girls.


Mr. Paul,

Good morning. First, let me I apologize if my letter is abrupt or inappropriate.  I do not know if there is actually anything you are able to do or even anything you want to, but I deplore you to please do something.

There are innocent girls in Nigeria who have been taken from their homes, their lives, and are in danger of being forever lost to their families, their parents, and their country.

According to Time’s website, I see that we have sent support. I ask you, as my Senator, to please encourage our government to fight for more than oil and money. Fight for lives, for children, for women, for freedom.

The greatest military in the world is certainly capable of saving these girls.

I know that there are politics involved that I surely do not have a firm grasp on, but I don’t care. I was once a young girl, and I can only imagine the fear those girls are experiencing right now. I am a mother, and I can truly understand the fear their parents are feeling right now.

Please. Senator, please. Show the world that you know how to love and encourage the world to do whatever it takes to beat the terrorists that are terrorizing these innocent girls.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my thoughts.

May the Lord bless you and keep your children safe.

Sincerely,

Leslie Broussard

Twitter Feed:#BringBackOurGirls 

It is a Terrifying Reality

Leslie Broussard Can Tweet @Write_to_Think

I finally finally finally found a handle for Twitter that I absolutely adore.

If you have ever spent any time reading my writing, you know that I write to think. I write to process. I write about insight and enlightenment and conflict, but it all centers on my emotion about an event or idea. And emotion is what drives me.

When I got pregnant and the subsequent carpal tunnel inhibited my ability to write, I was one big mess of emotion. I didn’t have my journaling to corral that emotion into a profitable exercise. I didn’t have my written words to help me figure out what I was doing, thinking, feeling. The written word is my outlet, my avenue, my therapist and my center. I write so that you can learn how to not make the same mistakes. I write so that you can think about something in potentially a new light. I write so that I can learn from my choices.

It has taken me a long time to get back into writing after the carpal tunnel subsided, but I think I am finally at a point where I am excited to write again. And with the introduction of @WritetoThink, I am ecstatic to join the Twitter-sphere.

Big big thanks to EmiAnnie for the continual brainstorming for the most perfect name.