05/18/2022
By Kate Stone Lombardi
“Be sure to drink plenty of water when you get home to flush out the toxins,” the massage therapist told me.
The toxins? I’m sorry, had I unknowingly swallowed pesticides on the massage table?
Dangerous poisons seems to be everywhere. Here’s a smattering of headlines that have recently crossed my transom:
“SEVEN TOXIC HABITS THAT DRAIN YOUR ENERGY!’
“TEN SIGNS YOU HAVE A TOXIC FRIENDSHIP!’
“SIGNS YOU MAY BE IN A TOXIC MARRIAGE WITHOUT REALIZING IT!”
“THINGS TOXIC PEOPLE SAY’
“OVERCOMING TOXIC EMOTIONS”
By the way, if you are wondering, this article claims that toxic emotions include anger, frustration, fear, resentment and sadness. And all this time, I thought those were just part of being human.
Yes, the Word Police are back and this time Officer Kate is pleading with you to curtail the overuse of the word “toxic.” Our old friend The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, defines “toxic” thusly:
: containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation
Examples: toxic waste, a toxic radioactive gas, an insecticide highly toxic to birds.
: exhibiting symptoms of infection or toxicosis.
Example: the patient became toxic two days later
I know what you are going to tell me – language evolves over time. I’m an old curmudgeon. I need to chill. And – full disclosure, even Merriam-Webster offers a third meaning, which refers to acting “harsh, malicious or harmful.”
Fine. Just don’t send any toxic judgement my way.