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Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Iki-gai - reason for living, written in symbols - what is your iki-gai when travelling?

Flag of Japan.
 

I heard a talk at a Toastmasters International speakers' training meeting about Iki-gai. The speaker helpfully told us where to look for more information. Wiki helpfully explainds the symbols. Symbols are the same in Japanese and in Chinese, although the words are said differently.

The word consists of 'Iki' ("to live") and 'gai' ("reason").[2] The term 'ikigai' compounds two Japanese words: 'iki' (生き, meaning "life;alive") and 'kai' (甲斐, meaning "(an) effect; (a) result; (a) fruit; (a) worth; (a) use; (a) benefit; (no, little) avail") (sequentially voiced as gai), to arrive at "a reason for living [being alive]; a meaning for [to] life; what [something that] makes life worth living; in French a raison d'être".

Japanese and Chinese symbols are the same. Think of the common symbol, like the sign for no smoking in Europe and worldwide is a cigarette with a red cross over it, although the words you say are different.

The question is, what is your reason for living? Is it to travel? Why? 


Escapism

Escapism? Variety?  For a change? 

To escape the cold winter. Or the hot summer? 


New Jobs, Contacts & Skills

To teach? To learn new skills? To learn languages? 

To find if another country offers you a better future? 

To go where you are judged as you are now and not what you were before? 

To go where teaching your own language is a sought after skill? To look good on your curriculum vitai (c.v for short, Americans say resume). To conceal the fact that you lost your job? To go whilst between jobs? To seek employment opportunity?

New and Old Friends & Family

Friends & Family

To make new friends? To travel with friends?

To see distant family and old friends? 

To escape the family? To bond with your family? To trace your origins?

Experience

To have a fund of stories to tell? To go whilst you still have the energy to travel. (And the funds?) 

It is your Iki-gai.

Why do you read about other countries when you cannot travel?

When you introduce yourself to others, what is your iki-gai?

If your tee-shirts have slogans, what do they tell you and others about your Iki-gai?

That you have travelled? Your country of origin? The language you speak? Your heroes and heroines? Your philosophy of life? Your favourite bands, buildings, colours?

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

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Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 VC5
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Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers VP PR, IPP
Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club

Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK; Nee Soon South.

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