ikigai

2021-08-31

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~1 min read

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139 words

Ikigai is a Japanese word that roughly translates to “sense of purpose” and “reason for living.” (I first wrote about it in the context of the Saphir-Whorf hypothesis and how words shape our thoughts.)

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently and what is my Ikigai. The answer to that question seems on its face to be one that changes with time as I pass through various seasons of my life. On the other hand, should the reason for living change just by living it? I’m not sure.

What I do know is that right now, I’m motivated to wake up and work hard every day to build a life for my family and me that is enjoyable and enables us to spend time together, to think, to laugh, and to flourish.

Time will tell if that changes.



Hi there and thanks for reading! My name's Stephen. I live in Chicago with my wife, Kate, and dog, Finn. Want more? See about and get in touch!