No more "awesome" in the new year

From dictionary.com

In recent years, the words cool, neat, and great have been replaced. The new king of the hill these days is awesome. I hate that. Because, truth be told, very few things in life are truly awesome. Overusing that word diminishes its meaning.

• Your burger is awesome? No, afraid not. Want to know what's really awesome? The Grand Canyon.

• Think your friend meeting you for drinks is awesome. Nope. Try the Sistine Chapel. 

• Sorry, your new jacket isn't awesome. But, you know what is? The universe. 

As a lover of words, I don't readily embrace slang. And, yes, I know saying "awesome" when you don't have to wait in line at the market is perfectly acceptable these days. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Think about it. Awesome means something that inspires awe. Is getting a parking place near the front of the mall really awe inspiring? I just don't think it is. However, the pyramids in Egypt are. So is Stonehenge.

The next time you think something is impressive or exciting. Why not say it's impressive or exciting? Believe it or not, not everything is awesome. But the things that are? Wow, they're pretty incredible.