Untranslatables in the Zeitgeist
A certain age, a certain generation has its own unique needs. Each such age sometimes borrows concepts and ideas from other ages and other cultures, sometimes combines them, and very rarely creates its own unique ideas which future generations will borrow or push against.
Here are some ‘Untranslatable to English’ concepts, which have infused themselves into our zeitgeist. Almost all of them are old, have tons of articles and at least a book or two written about them.
And they all help you become happier, live longer, learn to accept the uncontrollable.
Hygge
A Danish word which translates into “a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life.”.
Helps you with: happiness, joy. Bonus points for incorporating simplicity and minimalism.
Here’s what the New Yorker had to say back in 2016: The Year of Hygge, The Danish Obsession with Getting Cozy
If you want to read a book, guess you can’t go wrong with this highly rated Little Book of Hygge (Which is still on my to-read list.)
Wabi-Sabi
Wabi-Sabi is more of an aesthetic and a practice — “the art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in earthiness, of revering authenticity above all”. That’s the explanation from this article on wabi-sabi.
Helps you with: lowering expectations, really getting into details of things, builds curiosity, encourages exploration over judgement. Bonus points for encouraging up-cycling, repairing of things, anti-ageism, pro-environment.
This is definitely one of my favorite concepts. An excellent book which delves into Wabi-sabi: Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers
Mono No Aware
Another Japanese aesthetic — “the poignant feeling of transience” or “the deep feeling or pathos of things, the powerful emotions that objects can evoke or instill in us” as this article from the school of life explains. The classic example of Mono No Aware is the appreciation of cherry blossoms or fall colors, knowing how fleeting they are.
Helps you with: appreciation of nature, accepting that everything passes, living in the moment, acknowledging powerful emotions.
Here’s a book about Mono No Aware called Mono No Aware.
Ikigai
Yet another Japanese concept — “a reason to jump out of bed in the morning” or “a reason for being” . This concept, like Hygge is truly mainstream. Ikigai is the yang to the yin of Mono No Aware and Wabi-Sabi.
Here is an article on Forbes complete with Infographics on what Ikigai is.
Helps you with: purpose, happiness. Bonus points for being helpful in the business world. A favorite of productivity champions. Oh, and also helps you live longer. Bam!
Here is the best-selling book “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life”.
Uitwaaien
This is a Dutch word for “the activity of spending time in the wind, usually by going for a walk or a bike ride” as explained by this article.
This one is a new word for me — and I think it’s my favorite.
The feeling after a nice bike ride or a run or a climb, in the warm sun with a light breeze whipping my hair, my ears filled with the sounds of blood rushing in my head, the wind blowing and, on those especially lucky days, the ocean crashing in the background. That is Uitwaaien.
This is a concept, if you ask me needs to go mainstream. And many books need to be written — or maybe, just everybody needs to feel it.
I wrote this first for my newsletter at http://year-of-the-turtle.suprada.com/week-13-untranslatable.