Silver lining and Pay it forward: How idioms shape our attitudes in life

I did not speak English until I was eighteen. “Mary had a little lamb” was the first phrase in English I could manage to string together making this my official bilingual launch. Since those early days, studying words and languages became one of my most beloved activities and pastimes. In fact, as a result of professional and personal circumstances, I studied Japanese and even managed to read Hebrew later in life. In times of deep sorrow and pain in my life, I have shyly ventured into the magical world of poetry to be inspired by those with a “silver tongue.”

Castilian, my mother tongue, is the language that originates from the north-central region of Spain and the version of Spanish spoken in Argentina, where I was born. Its distinguishable tone and accent, in sharp contrast with other Iberian languages spoken in Latin America, makes an Argentinean-native speaker immediately recognizable. The inevitable use of the word “Che!” which is close to the “Hey you!” is another dead giveaway.  As I traveled the world pre Covid-19, I could always count on an Argentinean voice rising above the tourist crowds reminding me of home. When I visited the Hong Kong Island of Lantau or traveled to Lima or Bangkok, I was always amazed at the fascinating diversity of colorful cultures of words and their sounds.

I am curious about languages and the words that make them up. I am constantly looking for clues on where words come from. Therefore, many years ago while visiting Buenos Aires, my friend Silvia gave me a gift: The American Heritage Dictionary of The English Language (3rd ed.). My “trusty dictionary,” as I affectionately call this book, is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. Dictionaries like mine, that rest on a book stand with its inviting 2,140 pages opened wide like stretched arms, are a source of knowledge for native-speakers and students of the English language alike. In the movie, “The Professor and the Madman,” Mel Gibson stars in the making of the first Oxford English dictionary. This film depicts the painstaking process of defining ideas, clarifying meaning and shaping sounds of the language I now love.

As if difficult pronunciations and impossible rules about grammar were not enough, those of us who study languages also have idioms to figure out. These phrases give words new meaning because, almost like a painting, they can illustrate concepts too difficult to grasp. This brings me to explore a set of phrases that have gained popularity during this pandemic time. The curious thing is that business leaders, not poets, are using these phrases as they discuss topics that range as far and wide as the future of supply chains and how philanthropy is helping some communities survive. Take for example a recent comment by Greg White of Supply Chain Radio Now on the phenomenon to “give forward” as a slight variation of the idiom “pay it forward.” In her 1916 book, In the Garden of Delight, Lily Hardy Hammon wrote “You don’t pay love back; you pay it forward.” when discussing regret about her failure to repay an act of kindness before it was too late. Her use of those words, in that precise order, transmitted an idea that has endured for more than 100 years. Similarly, recent articles about donations of protective personal equipment (PPE) by donors to first responders have been fueled by both a shortage of PPE supplies as well as a desire to demonstrate a timeless love for humankind. A simple online search reveals one example after another of the positive impact of these “give forward” acts.

“In a similar vein,” we can explore the fascinating origin of another popular idiom that projects optimism during a difficult time. To look for the “silver lining” has become a metaphor for the resilient type, a way to always look at the bright side of life. These two words, written almost 400 years ago by seventeenth century English poet John Milton in 1634, are used to signal hope and opportunity in the face of adversity. Interestingly, in 1667 he wrote Paradise Lost, the epic poem about good and evil in the Western world.

As nations look to conquer the pandemic, Kevin Bell and other thought leaders encourage us to “look for opportunities without being opportunistic.” Although I do not consider this an idiom, I believe these words convey an important idea about the power of positive and ethical transformation. Imagine if we, collectively as one world, could recognize this moment as a “silver lining” chance – a time to move us in the peaceful and prosperous direction we all should want? To start, we could look to transform our patterns of consumption. We could capitalize on this moment and embrace the circular economy along with its central idea of a more sustainable world. We could also work together to redefine what wealth means to us. Many organizations, including Gartner, are doing just that. With the release of the Top 25, this business intelligence giant is emphasizing environment, social and governance capitals (ESG) as part of their scorecards. In the very near future, companies with a zero ESG score will no longer be thought of as best in class. What if we agreed to take better care of our planet by using technologies - of the green kind? Businesswoman Emma Imperial is doing just that by building low-income houses using solar power in Manila and beyond. Abundance is attainable if we make waste a thing of the past.

Whether you consider yourself a logophile or feel you are more of the pragmatic type, I hope you “pay it forward” and look for the “silver lining” during this critical moment in time.