生き甲斐 (Ikigai)
Love for Life, A Reason for Being (Japanese)
Standard Definition:
A sense of purpose and fulfillment, a love for life itself and the reason one gets up in the morning.
Poetic Meaning:
The love that runs through the veins of existence, the fire that makes life worth living.
Storytelling Etymology:
A Japanese concept that blends iki (life) and gai (worth or value), Ikigai is the deep satisfaction that comes from living with purpose. It is the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, and what gives life meaning.
Cultural Context & Symbolism:
Used to describe everything from grand life purposes to simple joys, Ikigai is both deeply personal and universally relevant. It is the understanding that love is not just about relationships—it is about loving life itself.
Poem:
A morning sun, a song unsung,
A path ahead, a life begun.
Not just to live, but to be free,
To love this life—it loves me.
Reflection:
Love is not only something we give to others—it is something we must cultivate within ourselves. Ikigai teaches us to fall in love with life, to find joy in existence, and to cherish each moment as a gift.
