Summer Solstice and Precision of Language

Today at 2:43pm, Pacific time, marks the Summer Solstice.

We often mistakenly label this as "the longest day of the year," but what this day really is is the day with the most daylight, of the year.

In many places, there will be "Midsummer Celebrations" on this day. Again, this is a funny label to use, given that today actually marks the first day of summer.

Don't get me wrong, I do love this time of the year!

However, thinking about the longest day of the year and midsummer made me also reflect on the myriad ways in which we tend to "mislabel" the things of life... and the resultant confusions that arise, sometimes leading to anger, arguments and even fights and wars.

"Precision of Language" is a term that is used in the book and subsequent movie "The Giver," and considers this exact issue we face, as part of the human experience.

I wonder how much strife and how many hurt feelings could be avoided if people paid more attention to the precision of their words. when they speak.