MERAKI

I should imagine naming a future child if ever faced with the task will undoubtedly be one of the most arduous endeavours I undertake in my lifetime. The fact that it took my family several months of heated discussion to name our pet dog cements that notion in my mind. For interest sake we settled on Tora.

In re-establishing and recommitting to this blog; to the task of writing and remembering and venting on a regular basis- to creating a space of my own I knew I wanted a new look and a new name. It felt it fitting for a new start. 

That is where my natural tendency to indecisiveness kicked in. 

At the very beginning I started this blog under the name of 'Pinstripes and Playing Cards'.
As detailed then I had settled on that name in a round about way.

'Pinstripes' for the somewhat corporate aspirations I had, the regimented ways of society and my love of both pencil skirts and candy stripes.

'Playing Cards' for the hands we are dealt and deal with, for the chances we take, the wins, the losses, childhood games of snap and for Glaser's famous heart.

'Pinstripes & Playing Cards' for the high school pact I made with my brother, standing at McDonald's reflecting on a newly released Red Hot Chilli Pepper's album and a school back pack. We decided in that moment that Pinstripes and Playing Cards would be the amazing title of our even more amazing debut Pop/Rock Album. Seeing as I am yet to master the triangle let alone a respected musical instrument and he is yet to attain expert guitar hero status for all songs, I thought I'd test run the name.

(Since then I have decided if ever I were to release an album of any sort I think I would name it 'Imperial Menagerie'. Another name that isn't really suitable as a blog title. )

I love alliteration as much as the next but I wanted a new name that was more personal. Thoughtful and simple and easily remembered. 

So I started looking.  For words I loved with meanings I loved even more. 

I thought about Confetti- little pieces of paper and colour and celebration. 

I considered Huzzah! as an exclamation that always makes me smile. 

I tried to come up with something Punny involving my name but nothing seemed right. 

See, there is this thing about words- how they often fail to convey the entirety of what you really mean- of what you are feeling or thinking. They are just our way of trying to define and fill the gaps between ourselves. They are weighted and weighed and can be profound and affecting. I searched and searched and have found one that I am still cautious of.

But one I had never heard before and immediately felt connected to. 

Meraki. 

Defined as 'to do something with soul, creativity or love - to put something of yourself into your work'. 

I love that notion. I truly believe everything happens for a reason- whether or not it makes itself known. We are influenced by all the people we meet, the places we go, the words we read and write and share. I want this space to be a manifestation of myself, my thoughts and feelings even if they are immature or naive or insignificant and seemingly fleeting. 

I want to put myself into this work- so Meraki it is. 

There are a few other words I happened across that I think are beautiful and considered using too.
Quaintrelle- a woman who emphasises a life of passion; expressed through personal style, leisurely pastimes, charm and cultivation of life's pleasures.
Adoxography- beautiful writing on a subject of little or no importance.
Miridical amazing, wondrous,
Metanoia - the journey of changing one's mind, heart, self or way of life. 

There are so many wonderful words out there- hidden in places I've never looked or written in languages I've never learnt. 

Words are so captivating and powerful to me. 

I am thankful to have this space to share my own.