The Intersection of Ora et Labora, Ikigai, and Life's Purpose

As I read the book about Ikigai, 📖 I realize how the meaning of life and doing meaningful things are integral to our lives,🌱 giving us a sense of fulfillment. ❤️

This morning, ☀️ I had a conversation with Father Redan ⛪ about pursuing meaningful activities. 😃 He shared with me that when there is no mass in church, 😇 his life feels dull, 🥹 but during his free time, ⌛ he enjoys gardening. 🪴 He also emphasized

meaning pray and work. When I asked him about the term for being in a state of flow—where time passes unnoticed—our conversation connected with the concept of Ikigai, which I am currently reading about. It's fascinating how everything is interconnected.

Tonight, we organized a mini birthday surprise for Tita. During the day, we bought a cake and lit it just outside her room, singing "Happy Birthday." I noticed that Tita didn't seem very interested or delighted on her 57th birthday. When I asked her about her target age, she said 75. She mentioned earlier that she doesn't want to age further, as she prefers not to rely on others for care. It was saddening to hear her lack of excitement. While I don't know her past explicitly, I suspect her personality is greatly influenced by it. Seeing this vibe makes me want to avoid that path and instead apply all that I've learned from Ikigai. Happy Birthday again, Tita.

I've been using a Kindle for reading, which has made me greatly appreciate its technology. It's amazing how it functions like a digital honeycomb, making it easy to read without distractions. I'm fascinated by this e-ink technology and its potential for the future. For me, it's a perfect blend of modern and traditional ways of learning and experiencing life.

Regarding smartphones, I've learned that excessive use can affect memory and cognitive abilities negatively. It's crucial to engage in activities that stimulate our brains, like regular exercise and using memory instead of relying solely on smartphones. Multitasking, for instance, can hinder our ability to think deeply and retain memories, leading to increased anxiety.

I often find myself pondering why I have these devices. For instance, I bought a Kindle, and I also have a small smartphone and a broken one. I try to assign specific purposes to each device, despite knowing they are capable of much more than what I use them for. I've allocated my Kindle for reading and drafting blog articles, my small smartphone for social media, and my broken smartphone for taking selfies. And that's their ikigai for me.