What an interesting observation about how our language may be influencing or possibly even reflecting our own insecurities.
On Sunday, I was at a mission homecoming for a friend and found myself talking to a Young Women’s leader from high school about what I was up to these days. I responded, “Oh, I’m just working.” And then I said to myself, Candace, stop saying that word.
The word “just” is peppered throughout the language of LDS women, especially my fellow twentysomethings:
“I just want to be a mom.”
“I’m just working.”
“No, I’m not married. I’m just living with roommates.”
“I’m just staying at home with the kids.”
“I’m just going to college/working until I get married.”
“I’m getting a degree just in case something happens to my husband and I have to work.”
The connotation of “just” in these situations can be self-deprecating and apologetic. It implies that whatever we have chosen to do with our lives at this current point in time or whatever dreams we have for the future are somehow inadequate.