Sometimes, the most important decisions of our lives They are not the fruit of long deliberations or meticulous plans. They arrive intuitivelylike a flash that we cannot ignore. That’s how I decided, many years ago, study Philosophy.
That decision has become a faithful companion throughout my life. It has offered me deep reflections, unanswered questions and, above all, some certainties that act as compasses when the road gets dark.
word collection
One of those wonderful lessons came through Ludwig Wittgensteinwho wrote: “The limits of my language are the limits of my world«Since then, I have loved the languagenot only as a communication tool, but as a universe full of possibilities.
Every word is a little treasure that, if dusted off and examined, reveals meanings, stories, and connections to our deepest humanity.
That’s why I like it collect concepts from other languages. Some words carry inside a wealth that no translation can fully capture.
And recently, in the midst of my recent, intense, enriching and also frustrating german classesI discovered one of those words that expand the limits of any world: Geborgenheit.
embrace emotional warmth
Geborgenheit was voted as one of the most beautiful words in German. It is said to be untranslatable, but if I had to try to explain it, I would say that it evokes a deep feeling of security, protection and emotional warmth.
Is that moment when everything is finenot because life is perfect, but because we are connected to something that gives us meaning. It may be the hug of a loved one, the feeling of come home after a long absence or, simply, being completely present in a moment of calm.
In Spanish, perhaps the closest thing would be a mixture of “shelter” and “well-being”. But even then, it falls short. Because Geborgenheit is not just a state, it is an experience. It is that emotional refuge that we find in the midst of the storms of life.
stand up and connect
In a world that constantly pushes us towards making, producing and solving, moments of Geborgenheit are increasingly rare.
It costs us stop and connect with those little things that offer us protection: a sincere conversationa cup of coffee next to someone you love, or even the feeling of being alonebut in peace.
The good news is that, although this feeling may seem elusive, it can be sought. It is about pay attention to the details that surround us and the emotions they evoke. Maybe it is in a corner of our house that we never gave importance to, or in that almost forgotten habit of calling someone just to hear their voice.
In my German lessons, I discovered that learning a language can also be a way to find Geborgenheit. It’s hard, yes. But amidst the words and phrases I struggle to pronounce, there is flashes of connection, of understanding. And in those moments, I feel like I’m expanding the boundaries of my world.
look for your connection
Talking about Geborgenheit is, deep down, talking about something that we all need: a emotional respite. No matter how much we love our routines or our challenges, life without those refuges becomes exhausting.
The invitation, then, is simple: let’s make room for our Geborgenheit. Let’s spend time identifying those experiences that give us that feeling of security, of connection and heat.
And, more importantly, let’s not wait for them to arrive on their own. Let’s look for them, let’s create them. A long hug, a kind word, a moment of silence to observe how the light comes through the window… All of that can be Geborgenheit. Maybe, deep down, we already know where to find it. We just have to dare to stop and look.
Yes, as Wittgenstein said, the limits of our language are the limits of our world. Let’s expand that language, let’s collect words that connect us with something elsebig and, above all, with ourselves.
Because in every Geborgenheit, we find not only a refuge, but a reminder that we are alive, that we are human, that we are, in essence, beings in connection search.
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