IKIGAI

Originally Posted: June 2nd, 2008

‘Ikigai’ is a Japanese word that really has no exact counterpart in English. The best that I can come up with, are more like concepts than definitions. It conveys the idea of one’s personal fervent goal in life or daily ‘giving’ activity. For me, it’s simply the reason to get up with a smile each day. So why all this palaver about an asian word? Well, as I research the literature on longevity, one point continues to dazzle me. Ikigai!

The areas of the world with the highest numbers of centenarians (eg. Okinawa), have been studied extensively and some patterns of their lifestyles have become evident. Yup, now you’ve got it. Ikigai is one the top consistent findings. Regardless of being 100 or 115 years old, they all have a daily ‘fervent goal’. They range from tending their garden and sharing the vegetables with others, to volunteering at clinics.

This need for purpose in one’s life seems to prevail in all of the centenarians. And so, I thought it most fitting to title our blog in honor of what they have taught us. Who knows, maybe this blog can be my ikigai when I’m 100. But for now, my fervent goal is just to wake up! Stay tuned and be fascinated with the centenarian’s other gifts to us, –particularly in regard to diet and exercise. I look forward to you sharing your own ‘ikigai’.