My personal vendetta

I have a personal vendetta against the phrase “I couldn’t be happier.” This also goes for “I couldn’t be more excited.” I think I wrote about this a few years ago, but it’s been a while, so please indulge me in my rant. 

My hatred for these phrases is threefold. First, it’s bad writing. Everyone says it, it’s in what feels like every tenth Instagram caption, and it litters engagement announcments and new job posts on LinkedIn. As I teach in my workshops on writing, the more a phrase is used, the less it means. You call yourself a creative? Find a more creative way to express yourself. 

Second, saying “you couldn’t be more excited” is not true. If a suitcase with million dollars was waiting for you at your new job, I’ll bet you could be more excited. If a personal hero were going to this wedding, and sitting next to you, you could be more excited. This falsehood is the basis for my third qualm: these phrases are reflective of our need to always have the very best experiences. 

Your job is not the greatest job in the world. Your wedding is not the greatest wedding in history. Your concert or book launch or gallery in fact could be better. That’s okay! When we lie to ourselves about our experiences, we shut our minds to the beautiful moments hidden within ordinary experiences. Instead of being grateful for the friends, food, and breath we have today, we wonder if we should be at a better party or restaurant. 

The need to always have the best exerience robs us of our presence with what we have today.