Meraki

I learnt a little Greek whilst working on the isle of Samos, a corner of the world that I love: the word Meraki (µεράκι) means to do something with your soul, to devote all that you have in order to do this task. Other beautiful Greek words include: χαρμολύπη – joyful mourning or sweet sorrow, with the bitter sweetness of suffering, for something you love, of course. Then there is Petrichor, the scent of earth after rain: and Paracosm, the imaginary world a child or adult brings to life inside their mind with all its mad adventures and beautiful chaos. I have a tattoo, Metta, inked on my right inner arm, it means compassion, or loving kindness, in Pali, the sacred language of Theravada Buddhism. It reminds me to behave when I’m getting nippy with others, or with myself. Where would we be without these words that convey not how we speak, but how our souls experience the world? What words do you use that can’t be translated?