WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

I remember seeing the book in a bookstore on the airport when we were on our way to the US.  It immediately caught my attention, but just as life is, when it’s not the right time for certain things they will just pass us until it is. 

I think that’s why I am a firm believer of second chances, because I believe life will always give us a few along the way.  If the time is not right the chance will be given again. 

And so again in this week I saw an article on the same book.  Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life written by Héctor Garcia and Francesco Miralles.  Immediately intrigued by the book, again, I decided to read up a bit and allow the thought of the topic to linger in me. 

I haven’t yet read the book, but from the reviews I like  the fact that the book has a very holistic approach and focussing on all aspects from relationships, diet, exercise, gratitude and Nature, only to name a few.  

The book is summarised in 10 rules, and believe me the list makes sense by just reading through it.  You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to realise why these are on the list.

1. Stay active

2. Take it slow

3. Don’t fill your stomach

4. Surround yourself with good friends

5. Get in shape

6. Smile

7. Reconnect with nature

8. Give thanks

9. Live in the moment

10. Follow your ikigai

Just to clarify nr 10. Ikigai is a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living. 

And yes the book is packed with really good content under each rule and one can clearly get  more out of the book than just the ten rules itself.

For me it was all weaved together in the way my entire week played out, and for some reason, like I said, when the time is right the impact will be made.  The lesson will be learned. 

A sense of purpose or your reason for living is a topic we are all confronted with during our life on earth.  For some it’s an easy and very obvious thing, for others a lifelong search and struggle.  Maybe one of the most revisited topics during man’s life.

After being sick for a few weeks I decided to do the 10km run at the Irene Farm race (the entries was done a month back, long before I got sick anyway). 

The commentator spoke a lot about why people run, and that each person are there for their own personal reason.  He kept on asking, “What is your why?” 

With the book in the back of my mind and his voice repeating itself in my head I had enough to chew on during my 10km run, and yes, through one of the pretties part of Pretoria. 

What is my why?  And not just for doing the race, but for doing life.

Am I living a happy and fulfilled life and am I doing enough to create that type of life for myself.  What is my a reason for living. 

I had a tough year and I had to give up so many things that I really worked hard for.  I was rerouted away from the things and places I thought  made me happy, fulfilled. The things I worked hard for to obtain this happiness.

I was taken on a different journey, an unknown one.   A completely different one than the one I have known for years.  And yes, I am still figuring it out.  I am still getting use to the news and the olds, the nice to have’s and the things that scares me and makes me trembly to the bone. 

I am still figuring out what makes me happy and what my purpose is, cause I lost a lot of the things I thought did.  I am still figuring out my new happy.

A  new journey to find my true self, my true purpose and to figure out what is my why.

Why I wake up in the morning?

Why I do what I do?

Why I love what I love?

Why I am who I am?

But more important constantly revisiting, changing and self-developing to live a life and to strive to live a life of purpose and fulfilment.  A life filled with things that gives me a  sense of purpose.

My Ikigai