As you get older and you have little people (aka nephews/nieces/friends’ babies) around that you want to help grow up loved and smart and happy, you start to notice the way people use their words.

I’ve always been a stickler for grammar and word usage, but as I get older, here are some words I’d wish people would use less:

• Jealous. I hear 100 times a day “I’m so jealous!” of someone’s brunch, trip to a far-off land, weekend afternoon off, manicure, new jeans, etc. I hate that word. Don’t be jealous, be proud/appreciative/happy for them. And mean it. You’ll get yours. And even you don’t, aren’t you glad they did? Appropriate replacement: gratitude. Show gratitude for what others have and also gratitude for what you have – even if it isn’t a month in Fiji or a new wardrobe or standing manicures.
• Sorry. I’ve talked about this before. Don’t say sorry unless you’ve done something worthy of apologizing for. Appropriate replacement: excuse me, pardon me, thank you.
• Starving. This is one I think my mom said to me a lot that’s stuck with me. You are definitely not starving. You are very hungry. You are regular hungry. You might even be thirsty. But you are not starving. This is more of a mindset. In addition, please everyone stop getting so hangry all the. Be a responsible adult and carry a snack in your purse like the smart people do. (I need to take my own advice on this one often.) Appropriate replacement: Hungry. Very hungry. Hangry.

What do y’all think? Are there words you try to use less? Do you try to put more meaning behind your words as you get holder?