Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about doing something with love. Now you may have noticed that in these Daily Mindfulnesses, I periodically like to share interesting words that I've come across. It seems to be a hobby of mine. And there's a new word I've come across recently.

It's a Greek word and it's meraki. Meraki. M E R A K I, meraki. And the definition of this word is when you do something with creativity or love, putting a piece of yourself into what you do. I really liked that last part, putting a piece of yourself into what you do.

I think there's something to be said for offering a part of ourself to, to our work, to what we care about, to other people, to our relationships, to the world around us. There's something in that that is a deep form of generosity, but also a form of surrender, merging, and love. And I think if we don't have something where we feel like where we're offering this creativity or love or a part of our heart, you can even imagine it as, something feels like it's missing. We can get caught in a self-centered orientation. And it's not to say that focusing on ourselves isn't important.

But at least the way I conceptualize this word Meraki, doing something with creativity or love, putting a piece of myself into what I do. That does feel like a powerful offering. And any time I am engaged in that sort of relationship with something around me, I actually feel, perhaps counter-intuitively, more fulfilled. I'm offering something of me, but that offering is also making space to be filled by something deeper. I'm allowing the world around me, into me more deeply.

So, my invitation to you today, in addition to like having fun learning about this word and sharing this word, is to explore where do you feel some meraki? Where do you have some meraki? What are the things in your day that you're doing with creativity or love? And specifically, what are the things where you feel like you're, you're generously putting a piece of yourself into what you do? Not necessarily as a, a form of self sacrifice that's against your will, but something where you feel like I want to offer myself. I feel like I'm giving myself over to something bigger, something I'm creating, something I love. And if you don't have that, maybe take some time to explore what that could look like, even if just for a few minutes each day. I think it's a powerful practice and it's something for you to consider on your journey of mindfulness, meditation, and growth. So thank you so much for your practice.

Have some fun exploring this, and let's settle in for today's meditation.