Here’s a fun word for you: illaudable.

This is one of those words in the English language that has a perfect antonym counterpart, where the meaning changes with the subtraction of a couple letters. If laudable means “worthy of praise”, that must mean illaudable means…did you guess it?

Merriam-Webster provides the following definition for illaudable:

That’s right, we are dealing with the “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” descriptor of deeds. The situation could be dastardly or simply undesirable. While we should all strive to live a laudable life, perfection is unattainable. The occasional (hopefully occasional) illaudable action will rear its ugly head. Dishwasher sitting empty? Put the dirty dishes on the counter and walk away. Driving a spouse’s car and notice the gas tank is almost empty? Bring the vehicle home and don’t mention anything. Children fighting? Let the cage match continue until there are tears.

Some people may naturally choose the illaudable path. It can be the more the direct route and lead to personal gain by doing whatever is necessary to put oneself first. Sometimes, an elevated personal focus is necessary and important, with no nefarious intent. Doing the right thing, the laudable thing, can often be the more difficult path, because it requires maintaining a personal code and regularly thinking of others first. Either way, it is challenging to exist entirely in the laudable or the illaudable; life is not a simple black and white. And, perhaps, one cannot exist without the other – there needs to be balance to the Force. What would be an achievable goal then? Here’s a start: don’t be an illaudable person; make sure life’s sum equals a positive.