February 18, 2022 - As a young lad I recall my parents, Alice and Cecil, discussing certain people's traits. I can remember that they often described someone as “down-to earth”. The phrase, to me,meant that the person so described was very nice. I still hear this phrase even today as people may describe others.
I was thinking about this phrase and did some research on what it actually means. The earliest use of this phrase that I can find was in a newspaper from 1922. The “Newark Advocate” used this phrase to describe reasonably priced clothing for women. The ad stated simply in the paper “Here are four groups of worthwhile garments at down-to-earth prices.”
There has been another recorded use of the phrase in an ad from 1935 in the “Sandusky Star Journal”. The phrase once again was used to describe the price of clothing. The ad read, “And, while our fashions are as new as tomorrow, our prices are the good down-to-earth prices that save you money.”
If you are practical and unpretentious, your friends might describe you as “down-to-earth”. This adjective has two slightly different meanings, the first of which is “realistic and sensible”. One could say that someone who is “down-to-earth” has a lot of commonsense. The second meaning is “modest or unpretentious”. This could be like a rock star who drives an older car and shows up at the local library or coffee shop, just like a regular person. They could be described as “down-to-earth”.
Authentic people have mastered most of the following traits and stay true to their hearts, no matter how far off the beaten trail it may lead. How many of the following traits to you have?
1. They think before they speak.
2. They speak for what is right, not for what is popular.
3. They indulge in conversation with depth.
4. They don't pay attention to gossip or drama.
5. They are comfortable being alone.
6. They value life as an experience rather than a collection of goods.
7. They appear as an introvert, but are very outgoing.
8. They trust their gut and listen to their instincts.
9. They follow their heart no matter how far, how crazy, or how much it may hurt.10.They stand out from the crowd.
11.They do things their own way.
12. They don't take rude people seriously.
So, if you have most of the above described traits, you might describe yourself as a “done-to-earth” person. Over the decades, this phrase has gained more meaning and hasa deeper connotation with different social groups throughout history. Despite having been around for over one hundred years, the phrase hasn't decreased in popularity, and instead, it has evolved with the times.
So, if you are a “down-to-earth” person, you are open and honest and a pleasure to find.
