Olēka
The concept of “Olēka” captures a bittersweet realization about the nature of memory and daily life. It is an invented word from this book which describes the awareness of how few days in our lives are truly memorable. Although we’d like to believe that every moment has some hidden significance and that if we’re just present enough, we could preserve more of them, the reality is that the majority of our days slip away unnoticed, dissolving into forgetfulness as quickly as they happen.
The daily labor of life—commuting, chores, the relentless maintenance of existence—often feels instantly swept away, leaving us unsure whether we’ve made any real progress or simply kept ourselves afloat for another day.