Words Worth Keeping • Stanley Wood

Ikigai (生き甲斐) – Japanese “A reason for being.”

A concept that defines the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Ikigai is about finding meaning and purpose in daily life.
Sisu – Finnish “Extraordinary determination in the face of adversity.”

More than just resilience, sisu is an inner strength that allows people to endure hardships without complaint, embracing discomfort as part of growth.
Lagom – Swedish “Not too much, not too little—just the right amount.”

A Swedish philosophy of moderation, balance, and sustainability in all aspects of life.
Lykke – Scandinavian “Happiness that comes from small, everyday pleasures.”

A common Scandinavian concept shared across Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, particularly embracing lykke as a way of finding joy in community, nature, and simple moments.
Wabi-Sabi (侘寂) – Japanese “The beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness.”

A Japanese aesthetic philosophy that finds elegance in natural flaws, aging materials, and asymmetry.
Ubuntu – Zulu / Xhosa (Southern Africa) “I am because we are.”

A deep sense of humanity and interconnectedness, emphasizing that personal identity is shaped through relationships with others.
Saudade – Portuguese “A deep, melancholic longing for something lost.”

Describes a sense of nostalgia, love, or longing for something—whether a place, a person, or a moment in time—that may never return.
Meraki (μεράκι) – Greek “Doing something with your soul, creativity, or love.”

When you put passion, creativity, and love into what you do, leaving a piece of yourself in your work.
Komorebi (木漏れ日) – Japanese “Light filtering through leaves.”

A word capturing a simple but fleeting beauty—how light and nature interact to create quiet moments of wonder.

Honorable Mentions

Fernweh (German) – “A deep longing for distant places, even places you’ve never been.”
Mångata (Swedish) – “The path of light that the moon creates on water.”
Flâneur (French) – “A wanderer who observes the city with no specific purpose.”
Dor (Romanian) – “A longing for someone or something deeply loved but absent.”
Gökotta (Swedish) – “Waking up early to hear the first birds sing.”
Gezellig (Dutch) – “A feeling of warmth, coziness, and togetherness.”
Uitwaaien (Dutch) – “To take a break outdoors in the wind to clear your mind.”
Resfeber (Swedish) – “The mix of excitement and anxiety before a journey begins.”
Sobremesa (Spanish) – “Lingering at the table after a meal, enjoying conversation.”

Why These Words Matter

They hold entire philosophies within them – Concepts like ikigai, sisu, and ubuntu shape how people live.
They describe feelings English often struggles with – Words like saudade, fernweh, and dor express emotions that lack direct translation.
They capture fleeting moments – From komorebi to mångata, they remind us to appreciate beauty in the everyday.