This month’s Retirement Sparks essay is educational. I’ve collected a number of foreign terms to help you live a better life. Some will likely be familiar; most will probably be new to you. I’ve grouped them into several categories to help you mull them over in some logical fashion.
The first category presents words that speak to being alone. Flâneur (from the French) is a person who lounges or strolls around in a seemingly aimless way. The flâneur is said to be a cool, aloof observer of urban society. I blogged about being a flâneur a few years ago, celebrating the surprising findings on my own aimless walk. The notion of being an aloof observer didn’t make it into my post, but I like that.
The Latin Solivagant is defined as wandering alone in solitude around the world. Sounds like a more far-reaching flâneur without mention of being an aloof observer.
The Portuguese Nefelibata (cloud-walker) seems rather judgmental. It’s someone who lives in their own dreams and not in conventional society. They might very well be found in Le Pays de Cocagne, an imaginary French place, based on luxury and idleness.
On the other hand, the German Waldeinsamkeit has a more noble meaning: to be alone in nature or the woods. It’s said to be spiritual solitude. I like the sound of that.
The second category is the opposite of aloneness, with just one word that celebrates being with others. It’s the Danish word Hygge, the warm feeling you have when enjoying great company. I’m sure there are other foreign words that celebrate togetherness, but I didn’t turn them up in my research for this essay. I wonder if hygge is where the word ‘hug’ comes from.
The third group talks to finding the positive in everyday life. The Swedes celebrate Njuta, the art of savoring the moment and appreciating everyday experiences. An excellent example of this would be the Japanese Komorebi, when the sun goes through the trees and the leaves filter the light.
The Greeks similarly value Meraki, doing something with love or soul. For them, that translates into pouring yourself into your work. The Hindi word Jijivisha is less specific, defined simply as an intense desire to get the most out of every day.
How we go about all this brings me to our fourth category, another with just one entry. It’s the Bulgarian word Ailyak, the subtle art of doing everything calmly and without haste. I doubt that would work for those with AD
The fifth category is a variation on the fourth, but it doesn’t speak to time. You’ve no doubt heard of Marie Kondo. KonMari is the Japanese method of sparking joy by clearing clutter. Just the notion of decluttering makes me tingle with joy. But making it happen… well, that’s an entirely different matter.
The Swedish and Norwegian concept of Lagom is a more structured way to approach decluttering. It emphasizes achieving balance and maintaining a harmonious equilibrium, which is integral to the Scandinavian way of living. I don’t think a person can have lagom if their home is cluttered.
The final category defies classification and has just one entry, from Germany. It is so unlike what most of us would expect from the Germans that I just had to include it. The term is Fernweh, and it describes when you’re homesick for somewhere you’ve never been. It sounds more like an Italian concept to me. I’m half Italian and about a quarter German, by the way. So I’m offending both groups equally.
That’s the last of the foreign terms I turned up in my research. To help you integrate some of them into your own life, I’ve written a Days Of the Week ditty.
On Monday, do your laundry Meraki-style, with love and soul.
On Tuesday, do your ironing Ailyak-style, calmly with no haste.
On Wednesday, maximize your wardrobe with Jijivisha mending.
The second category is the opposite of aloneness, with just one word that celebrates being with others. It’s the Danish word Hygge, the warm feeling you have when enjoying great company. I’m sure there are other foreign words that celebrate togetherness, but I didn’t turn them up in my research for this essay. I wonder if hygge is where the word ‘hug’ comes from.
The third group talks to finding the positive in everyday life. The Swedes celebrate Njuta, the art of savoring the moment and appreciating everyday experiences. An excellent example of this would be the Japanese Komorebi, when the sun goes through the trees and the leaves filter the light.
The Greeks similarly value Meraki, doing something with love or soul. For them, that translates into pouring yourself into your work. The Hindi word Jijivisha is less specific, defined simply as an intense desire to get the most out of every day.
How we go about all this brings me to our fourth category, another with just one entry. It’s the Bulgarian word Ailyak, the subtle art of doing everything calmly and without haste. I doubt that would work for those with ADHD.
The fifth category is a variation on the fourth, but it doesn’t speak to time. You’ve no doubt heard of Marie Kondo. KonMari is the Japanese method of sparking joy by clearing clutter. Just the notion of decluttering makes me tingle with joy. But making it happen… well, that’s an entirely different matter.
The Swedish and Norwegian concept of Lagom is a more structured way to approach decluttering. It emphasizes achieving balance and maintaining a harmonious equilibrium, which is integral to the Scandinavian way of living. I don’t think a person can have lagom if their home is cluttered.
The final category defies classification and has just one entry, from Germany. It is so unlike what most of us would expect from the Germans that I just had to include it. The term is Fernweh, and it describes when you’re homesick for somewhere you’ve never been. It sounds more like an Italian concept to me. I’m half Italian and about a quarter German, by the way. So I’m offending both groups equally.
That’s the last of the foreign terms I turned up in my research. To help you integrate some of them into your own life, I’ve written a Days Of the Week ditty.
On Monday, do your laundry Meraki-style, with love and soul.
On Tuesday, do your ironing Ailyak-style, calmly with no haste.
On Wednesday, maximize your wardrobe with Jijivisha mending.
On Thursday, do not churn; just enjoy Lagom equilibrium.
On Friday, let KonMari inspire you to declutter and clean.
On Saturday, bake and savor the day Njuta-style.
On Sunday, rest à la Nefelibata. Live on clouds in your dreams.
On Thursday, do not churn; just enjoy Lagom equilibrium.
On Friday, let KonMari inspire you to declutter and clean.
On Saturday, bake and savor the day Njuta-style.
On Sunday, rest à la Nefelibata. Live on clouds in your dreams.
Don’t expect to find this embroidered on panties, but I might get it put on a dish towel.
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