January: MERAKI

Hello, journaling friends! In 2025, our monthly Cafe Analog’s friendly journaling challenge #caprojectme25 will take its prompts from beautiful words from various languages around the world! We think it will be a fun way to start the year while also giving you the freedom to design a spread based on the essence of a word, making it very personal to you! We will also have three journaling prompts for you to choose from as a way for you to connect more with the month’s word selection!

The word for January is the Greek word, meraki: to do something with love and with your soul; when you really put a part of yourself into something.

The Greek word “meraki” captures a profound sense of devotion and passion. It suggests an immersive engagement with whatever we’re doing—either work, chores, or hobbies—reflecting how infusing actions with love and care can enrich both the process and the outcome.

This word emphasizes the importance of creativity and soulfulness, encouraging us to approach tasks not just as obligations but as expressions of who we are. What would it look like if we put our soul, love, care, and creativity into everything we do?

As the new year unfolds, Meraki reminds us to live our day-to-day moments with a heart-felt approach, ensuring that each step we take is filled with our loving being.

Embracing this word in January inspires us to cultivate a life that resonates with joy and authenticity, especially in the art of creative journaling.

This month, create a spread with your stationery supplies or other materials that will capture the essence of the word MERAKI for you. If the word is a journal spread, what would it look like?

Here are some creative journaling prompts for you to choose from:

1.

Reflect on Your Passions

What activity or project do you currently engage in makes you feel alive and fulfilled? Describe how you engage in this endeavor with love, care, and creativity. Which part of this activity feels so close to your heart and how can you bring that feeling into other parts of your life?

2.

Set Your Intentions

As you enter this new year, what intentions can you set that embody the spirit of Meraki? Write about how you can infuse your daily life with the essence of the word—either in your relationships, work, or mundane chores and activities.

3.

Cherish the Process

Think about a recent moment where you lost track of time while doing something you love. What elements contributed to that experience being so fulfilling? Write about how you can bring more of that Meraki spirit into your life this January.

Feel free to share your pages and spreads with the hashtag #caprojectme25 if you’d like others who join the project to find yours—and you can also see how others translate MERAKI into their journal pages!

Have fun, and have a lovely 2025 filled with love, passion, and soulfulness!