Look After Your Mind – Ikigai
This is a Japanese term that means ‘a reason for living’. It is a combination of ‘iki’ (to live) and gai (worth or value). Essentially it is whatever gives you value, joy and purpose. It is the very opposite of ennui (pronounced ahn-WEE); this being an ongoing feeling of listlessness, dissatisfaction with life and a lack of purpose and direction. I hope you can see how mentally and emotionally beneficial ikigai can be.
When I was twelve my parents bought me a chunky book of hobbies. Dozens were listed, each with a short article about what they involved. I was immediately drawn to creative writing and astronomy.
Serendipitously (or providentially?), not long afterwards we moved from South Wales up to the Midlands. I had been struggling to learn Welsh, but in my new school it was French that was taught. When my French teacher realised I didn’t speak a word of it, and was many months behind my classmates, she told me to ‘go and sit over there and get on with something useful’. ‘Over there’ was the naughty corner (do schools still have these?). I didn’t mind; I had my rough notebook and a pen and fifty minutes to try a little creative writing. I enjoyed it so much that during every French lesson I would hurry to the naughty corner, where I was one of the best-behaved children in the class.
There followed a decades-long career, still ongoing, as an author. I had found my ikigai!
Steve Bowket
The Medbourne Classic
