Don’t ask for the moon.

Today’s English
August 4th, 2017

Have you heard this story? A rich businessman met a sage and told him that he had everything in life but not peace.  The Rishi asked him to write his appeal in a paper. The man wrote – “I want peace.”  The Rishi simply struck off the first two words and gave him the paper back.  This was the solution.  “I" (ego) and “want" (desire) are the huge rocks which block the sunshine of peace.  However the more we want, the more we need different words to express our feelings and desires.  Language is but the dress of your thoughts, feelings and desires.

Ten Words to Express Your Desires:
(Wish, want, desire, long for, burn, aspire to, fancy for, act on impulse, prefer and yearn)
1. I wish, tomorrow is my retirement day. / I wish, I had a new sari/car like this.
2. I want this work to be done before evening. / She wants a meeting with you.
3. He had a strong desire for money and power.
4. He longed for the peaceful life he had earlier.
5. He was burning for her.
6. He aspired to be the next president.
7. I fancied for a BMW car after joining the job.
8. Think twice. Don’t act on impulse.
9. I prefer ice cream to biscuits. (=I like ice cream rather than biscuits)
10. She yearned for acting in Sankar's film.

Expressions to carry your wants

1. To have an eye for something = to deeply desire for
A. He has an eye for the principal’s post.
B. I thought, you had an eye for me. Not at all.

2. To your heart’s desire = to have as much as you want
A. Eat to your heart’s desire and all these items are only for you.
B. I talked to her to my heart’s desire and felt so happy about that.

3. Ask for the moon = desire for something extraordinary or unavailable
A. Don’t ask for the moon and take what is available here.
B. Do you think that I’m asking for the moon? I just want to study abroad.

4. Lick your lips = to long for having something
A. Why can’t we order for some ice creams? See! kids are licking their lips.
B. He is always licking his lips for more and more money.

5. Something is calling you = feel a strong desire to get it
A. Wait for a while. Pizza is calling me. (=let me go and get pizza first)
B. This new model bike is calling me a lot. I need to save more money to buy that.

“To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves.
- Federico García Lorca, “Blood Wedding and Yerma”