I'll never forget learning the meaning of "ambivalent" in junior high. Or was it elementary school? Or was it high school?
Ok, so I forgot the context of learning the word, but I remember the actual learning part!
It was memorable because it was the first time a vocab lesson cleared up a major misconception for me. Amibvalent does not mean (what I thought it did) that you're like, "eh, whatever, I don't care about the outcome either way, I'm ambivalent"
It means you feel *very* strongly about both opposite points of the spectrum. Like when a guy has to choose between a blonde and a cute brunette. Who do I marry? On one hand, Cindy is so cute and blonde and perky. But on the other hand, Lisa is so mature, and proper, and brunette.
Well I'm ambivalent about taking the bar. On one hand, it's like YES! GET IT OVER WITH! BREATH AGAIN! LIVE AGAIN! LOVE AGAIN! LAUGH AGAIN!
And on the other hand, it's like, no, please, no, please please don't make me go through with this...
But then again, I would really really really LOVE to get this over with.
But then again, I would really really really LOVE to have more time to study...
4 comments:
I find that most people use your presumed definition. In counseling they taught us to use it to help people understand how they feel two opposite things at once. When I say to people, wow, there's a lot of ambivalence in that situation, they'll say, "No, I really care about it!" I wonder how the meaning evolved over time...
But now I know I can accurately empathize with you like my education taught me.
Thank you! Someone who *truly* understands. It makes me cringe when I hear ambivalent used wrongly...like nails on a chalkboard.
A lot of people do use it like they should be using "indifferent"....your posts are always very interesting Christina :)
Probably better that the bar will be over soon. Sanity is underrated. Just think, very soon you'll be posting from the other side.
Christina - it's almost here! You are always so good everything you do and no matter what - I am so in awe of your hard work and dilligence. I am so proud to be your friend. Hope all goes well and we will talk after!
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