why are we (both) here?

Sometimes, it's the right question to be asking.

This is “my Substack” - wow, what a cliche. Why is it here? Why are you here? Why am I here? We truly have no need to be. So if that means you are already heading out the door, g’bye. Hope to see you around. Hope you come back soon. Hope you have a good life. Hey, you don’t say, my second cliche of the day (all variations on a theme in D minor).

Why would you want to stick around? Because you won’t want to miss out on this intriguing collection of interesting, informative insights using alliterative techniques like the “in” sound in this very sentence. You will find many such verbal twists, turns and obscurities — daringly delightful, potentially provocative, ok even sometimes a little ridiculous on occasion — right here. And it you decide I have totally over-promised on all that, you always have the option to under-deliver this Substack to your inbox. Because you won’t have to pay for anything anyway. You could just as easily bookmark it (I’ll give you helpful hints, like how to do that). But if I play my verbal cards right, I wll also be able to give you something to consider - or at least, that’s my “intent.”

This is the very first post headed in the general direction of going the next level down. Which is - where exactly? Or just as more importantly - why? If you have already reached rock bottom, maybe you don’t need to. Or maybe you do. In any case, answering that question will be a mutual discovery between reader and writer, but here is a hint ...

The initial name I thought of for this Substack was “Epexegesis.” I was pleasantly dumbounded that it was still available! I stumbled on it in an email I receive daily, to expand my vocabulary. As you will see if you stick around (or come back, or stop in on occasion), my vocabulary is actually not bad - but as my mother used to say when I thought I was finished practicing piano, there’s always room for improvement. Which is why I subscribe to that “learn a new word every day” newsletter from Word Daily. And, the more you use words — whether reading or writing — the better you get to know them. And maybe yourself. Which was the overall reason I had in mind for starting this Substack, when I finally decided to start this Substack.

So far, so good. But as I glanced at that particular word in my inbox, and also opened the email to see how it was defined, I was pleasantly surprised. It means, — well, more good words. In other words, wordy but in a good way: “additional words that clarify meaning.”

I ended up choosing this title for my Substack - next level down - because it means more or less the same thing but figuratively, which will make it easier to remember. It’s sort of a cliché and I gotta say, I like overworn phrases — not just words — too. More words or phrases that clarify or unlock more meaning help me — and maybe you — to learn more. To get, in effect, to the next level down, about ourselves, and our ability to express what we mean to say, and why we feel compelled to say it. (If you don’t feel compelled, often a better idea not to). And the feelings, the meanings (which can be different) that we choose to attach to our words is what makes life - well, interesting.

Does that interest you? I guess it depends on the writer — and on you, the reader. But assuming so (I’m an optimist!), stay tuned for more. No, let’s rhyme that instead. Let’s just see … omg, cliche number 3!