This lands because it refuses the myth that purpose is a finish line. What she’s really naming is the grief of losing identities that once did the explaining for us and the relief of discovering we’re still useful without the costume. Ikigai isn’t a productivity hack for aging gracefully. It’s permission to stop auditioning and start contributing from what’s actually alive now. The world doesn’t need our résumés. It needs our clarity. And that usually shows up right after control leaves the building.
My husband and I are having a lot of grief right now from losing two beloved pets within two weeks of each other. They were 16 years old, and it was time. But I really enjoyed this essay. George and I are probably a good bit older than most of the readers of this dispatch, so this speaks directly to us. I think the Ikigai is a beautiful tool. I am not sure that I was ever passionate or even extremely good in the field that comprised most of my career...i.e., academic librarianship. But my volunteer work since my retirement has placed me squarely in positions that call perfectly for my skills and passion, and in which I am genuinely needed. So absent getting paid, I do feel as if I have found that perfect identity. This recent loss of our furbabies has shaken everything, however. I am trying to invite religion back into my life and having some problems with really connecting. That's why I jumped into the Soul Boom arena as soon as I became aware of it. I haven't viewed/listened to this podcast yet but am really eager to do just that. Thanks to the Soul Boom Team for all that you do to help enrich our lives, and our souls!
Looking forward to cut out some time to watch this, it looks great. I appreciated the essay in the meantime. I recently lost so much of what I had built over the years. Home, jobs, savings, possessions. It’s been a revelation and I’m stripping down all parts of the persona I had built to find out what lies underneath and how I can offer my contribution to the world. Creativity and art are holding me strong, the Substack community seems a wonderful nourishing environment to enjoy this crazy ride of a life. Can’t substitute a physical community but it definitely adds to it. Much love and gratitude to everyone sharing their heart in this space 🙏 blessings
For me, vocation lies at the intersection of who I really am, what I’m uniquely great at, and where I truly belong. Remuneration is a side effect of doing work I love with people I care about, not the end in and of itself.
This lands because it refuses the myth that purpose is a finish line. What she’s really naming is the grief of losing identities that once did the explaining for us and the relief of discovering we’re still useful without the costume. Ikigai isn’t a productivity hack for aging gracefully. It’s permission to stop auditioning and start contributing from what’s actually alive now. The world doesn’t need our résumés. It needs our clarity. And that usually shows up right after control leaves the building.
To the Infinite, the Finite & Our Foolishness
.
Life’s irony’s the view we benefit
from physical, material delight
as though naught counts but what’s felt or in sight
while ignored our souls are desperate
for what should count the most—the infinite;
yet we’ll go on till it’s too late, despite
much instinct in us of what’s truly right
that life’s content is so inadequate.
.
Regardless, to that same life we cling tight
since the physical solely seems definite
thus for material matters we fight
—like the blind-mind addict’s barbiturate—
while Great Hereafter’s placed post-the-finite
so skewed are values foremost we’ll permit.
My husband and I are having a lot of grief right now from losing two beloved pets within two weeks of each other. They were 16 years old, and it was time. But I really enjoyed this essay. George and I are probably a good bit older than most of the readers of this dispatch, so this speaks directly to us. I think the Ikigai is a beautiful tool. I am not sure that I was ever passionate or even extremely good in the field that comprised most of my career...i.e., academic librarianship. But my volunteer work since my retirement has placed me squarely in positions that call perfectly for my skills and passion, and in which I am genuinely needed. So absent getting paid, I do feel as if I have found that perfect identity. This recent loss of our furbabies has shaken everything, however. I am trying to invite religion back into my life and having some problems with really connecting. That's why I jumped into the Soul Boom arena as soon as I became aware of it. I haven't viewed/listened to this podcast yet but am really eager to do just that. Thanks to the Soul Boom Team for all that you do to help enrich our lives, and our souls!
Looking forward to cut out some time to watch this, it looks great. I appreciated the essay in the meantime. I recently lost so much of what I had built over the years. Home, jobs, savings, possessions. It’s been a revelation and I’m stripping down all parts of the persona I had built to find out what lies underneath and how I can offer my contribution to the world. Creativity and art are holding me strong, the Substack community seems a wonderful nourishing environment to enjoy this crazy ride of a life. Can’t substitute a physical community but it definitely adds to it. Much love and gratitude to everyone sharing their heart in this space 🙏 blessings
For me, vocation lies at the intersection of who I really am, what I’m uniquely great at, and where I truly belong. Remuneration is a side effect of doing work I love with people I care about, not the end in and of itself.