Untranslatable Words

I’ve always loved untranslatable words - those rare gems from other languages that express something we don’t quite have words for in English.

Here are three of my favourites that speak to the power of presence, purpose and self-expression:

✲ Marek (Serbian):
The pursuit of small daily pleasures that bring fulfilment and a sense of oneness with life.

✲ Ikigai (Japanese):
A reason for being - a purpose that gets you up in the morning and makes life feel deeply worthwhile.

✲ Meraki (Greek):
To pour your soul, love, or creativity into something so fully that you leave a part of yourself in it.

Each one invites us to step outside the constant pressure to achieve and instead reconnect with what feels meaningful.

When I started to reduce the noise in my life and create more space to listen to my inner voice, something shifted. I began to change direction - moving into the unknown with no clue where I was going, but with a quiet and surprising sense of trust.

From this place, I trust that each step I take and every choice I make will lead me somewhere interesting and rewarding.

I found my ikigai.

This is also what led me to create workshops that help others reconnect with their creative potential.

When we allow ourselves to express, explore and enjoy, Meraki, Ikigai and Marek awaken.

And the guidance we once searched for outside begins to rise from within.

What might shift if you let meaning, pleasure or self-expression shape your next move?