In search of my ikigai

When I started this blog I had aspirations that I might manage a post a fortnight, definitely one a month. I was fired up, excited by the prospect of writing and creating for myself and determined to keep up the habit. Pah!

Well it's never too late and if I'm not going to give myself a second chance then who is?..

I'm not really sure why I lost momentum and this idea has lain dormant for 5 months - oops! I think it's partly because the world has been 'opening up again' and I've found it exhausting. I find it hard to decipher what is post-pandemic and what is post-parenthood. Whilst we were in our lockdown bubble, a single trip outside each day seemed about right, with a toddler & newborn.

Now there are actual arrangements again and our parameters as a family have changed. Two nap schedules, two car seats, a buggy (& a sling just in case), two lots of snacks of different bite-sized proportions… and here we are turning the autumn corner into winter and I haven't even broached the subject of all-weather wear! I dread to think how many separate items of clothing will be necessary.

As an out and out extrovert I've been surprised how tiring I have found having a social life again. I've been consciously limiting our plans, keeping days free or saying 'no' altogether. I've even started to really relish time on my own. Two under two in a global pandemic will do that to you it seems.

And four weeks ago I went back to my museum job. I'd felt much more apprehensive going back to work this time around. There was more to juggle at home and I knew that we as a family would need more time to adjust to our new rhythm and roles. Save for seven short weeks at the beginning of 2020, I've been at home for the entirety of my 2 and three quarter year old's life!

In amongst 'all of this', this idea has found new resonance for me personally. It's the small pebbles that have made it all feel even vaguely doable - breaking the day into 2 hour blocks between meals or sleeps; grabbing 15 minutes with a cup of tea and a biscuit; a big breath of fresh air on a brisk solo walk to buy some more milk. There is something 'mindful' about parenting young children. It's very hear and now and I've welcomed being a bit cut off from news of the wider world...

On paper being back at work gives me less time but in practice I actually think it gives me more headspace. I've written this blog on my train rides. I'm lucky that the day job has significant overlaps with what I think I'm trying to build here. It actually feels like a nice personal stretch at the end of the day when my brain has been firing on different but related subjects.

I'm still really keen that at the heart of this is a commitment to learn from other cultures, in particular those that are more connected to the natural world and operate smaller scale societies. Humans are wonderful but a very narrow and unrepresentative version of humanity has been held up globally as the archetype. I feel like some of that is starting to shift. I'd like to help accelerate the change.

I also recently came across this excellent venn diagram by marine biologist and climate activist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. She created it as a way to answer the question she is most commonly asked by people… 'what can

I do to help address the climate crisis?'

She designed it as way for people to identify their superpowers and the magic they can bring 💫.

It reminded me of the Japanese concept of ikigai which translates as 'a reason for being' - the thing that you, and only you can give the world and motivates you to get up and live a long happy life. I'm interested to discover if small pebbles will be my ikigai as I continue my transition into full blown motherhood. And how this project can become 'what I should do' in the face of these uncertain times.

I've also been thinking about the categories I've identified and wondering how best to structure what I'm calling 'resources'. I'm thinking that each of my categories could have a couple of 'pebbles' - small actions to commit to which make a difference to you and your children in the first instance, but in actual fact can add up to real, planetary change.

I am also increasingly keen to make my content overtly feminist by intentionally platforming the knowledge, experience and ideas of the marginalised 50%. Lord knows we could do with a few more women making the decisions on how the world operates. More on that another time.

So watch this space for inspiration on Making ☆ Moving ☆ Energy ☆ Friends & Family ☆ Words & Ideas ☆

Actual content coming soon!

Image credit: World Economic Forum