LANGUAGE
3 Clichés That Are Annoyingly True
What is a cliché and why do we find them so annoying? Perhaps, it is the lack of originality that prompts an irritated glare, or is it the broad application that renders our experience basic? Don’t we all want to be special?
Our sense of individuality is dear to us and clichés really do — or attempt to — illustrate the commonalities between us. Even if it’s exceedingly irritating to admit, could it be, that sometimes all you really need is to live, laugh, love? Certainly, there is research to prove the benefits of laughter.
So instead of rolling my eyes into the back of my head, I want to give clichés another chance. Let’s explore three common clichés and what they may have to teach us.
1. Home is Where the Heart Is
I wonder how many times I’ve heard this one. Just the other day, I was listening to a Beyoncé song, where she uses the phrase. I’ve certainly also come across it in various home decór situations.
Taking a pause to reflect on this saying, “home is where the heart is” illustrates a rather complex sentiment that is intimately bound to our sense of belonging. After all, what does it mean to feel home?
The general message behind these words is that home and belonging aren’t necessarily determined by a physical place. Belonging can be defined as being able to intuit your place within a larger order; you know your place relative to others, and you are imbued with value within a particular chain that makes sense to you and others around you.
Belonging also indicates that we have some predictability and can move within that order with relative ease. It’s about comfort and connectedness. We know that nomadic people, for instance, are deeply connected to their home even if they technically don’t have a home, by modern terms. Despite being continuously on the move, they are intimately bound to their environment and nature’s patterns, which is what they follow with “relative ease”.
Ultimately, home is about connecting with the people around us. Essentially, the home functions as the doorway between ourselves and the rest of the world. It strengthens our bonds with the people who are close to us and makes it easy to distinguish with whom we belong.
Home is the place that, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.
— Robert Frost
2. Carpe Diem
This one is slightly misleading to list here, as it is a misinterpreted saying whose original meaning got lost in translation. Yet, I’m convinced that carpe diem has a beautiful lesson to impart upon us, especially when we dive a little deeper into its original meaning.
The Latin phrase carpe diem first appeared in Horace’s poem. Literally, it means to “pluck the day”, and unlike the “grab the bull by its horns” sentiment that ‘seize the day’ evokes, the original phrase elicits the idea of enjoying the moment that, once it has ripened, should be harvested.
Instead of conquering the day by means of force, plucking the day is a horticultural metaphor that encourages you to reap the benefits of the seeds you once sowed. When the fruit is ripe, it is then yours for the taking; but stay attentive, so you don’t miss the moment.
In a world where everything happens fast, the true meaning of carpe diem instructs us to stay consistent, patient, and be ready when the right time in the right place arrives, where we can simply pluck an opportunity with ease.
On one hand, it’s a reminder to slow down, to wait, to let the sun take its turn, to let the cycle of the seasons guide us. On the other hand, it teaches us not to be lazy or hesitate when the time finally arrives, to not miss an opportunity when it’s presenting itself. It truly brings into focus the importance of mindful living, to be in tune with the natural progress of things, and to not miss the beat when you hear it.
So when the moment is ripe, carpe diem.
3. Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
When I grew up, my father used to say that nothing is so bad that it can’t be good for something. This piece of advice has guided my life ever since, and I always look for a silver lining to any situation that may come my way.
Despite how frustrating it can be to be handed lofty advice in moments of distress, there is something poetic about the silver lining. It is no wonder that the imagery of the line around a gray cloud created by the bright sun behind it originated in a poem written by John Milton.
In my opinion, the silver lining is much more true to life than sayings like, “Look at the bright side”, or “The grass is greener on the other side”. Those clichés make promises about what is to come and that it will get better with time. In truth, no one can make such promises because the future remains unknown.
The silver lining doesn’t direct your attention to what comes after the storm, instead, it directs your attention to whatever you can find within the storm you are currently braving. What that is, is entirely up to you. It can be anything from a small optimism derived from a passing smile, to a greater purpose beyond yourself.
It is also a principle of beauty. The mere imagery of the sun beaming behind a dark cloud is impactful. No matter what is happening, there is always something beautiful to find.
Conclusion
People are storytellers. They add morals, ideals, narrative, and meaning to their experiences. Ultimately, that is what these sayings represent. Clichés perfectly capture the stories that are so intimately bound with being human. They are also platitudes that are overused and undeniably irritating. But next time you hear one, stop to think. Perhaps you will find solace in the predictability of a lofty saying that, annoyingly, rings true.
