Hi Erin, first of all, I love your writing. You could, without a doubt, be a book writer ;-).
I was wondering if you know the book Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life, written by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles? The book is about finding your "ikigai" (which means: your reason to exist) and the writers have researched what the secrets of living a long, fulfilling and healthy life are of Okinawa, Japan (also one of the five blue zones).
I found this book to be a real eye opener. Also, with all the technical developments (I very much recognize your struggle with technology and social media) in today's modern society, we often forget that so many 'wheels' have already been invented loooooong before we ever came into this world. And nowadays, we spent so much time and effort in trying to reinvent the wheel, by searching for 'the secrets' that bring us happiness, fulfillment, purpose, health and piece of mind. I very much believe in taking a step back and learn more from the older generations and our ancestors.
Also, I believe that indigenous people from many different areas all around the world have so much wisdom to share. They're the experts of learning from their ancestors and applying this wisdom into their own lives. I also love how many of them are 'one with the land'; they don't feel like they own it, they are part of it. They prove that human kind does not need materialism, capitalism or technology to live a wholesome and satisfactory life. We (as part of the Western culture) just need to learn the ability to step away from (some of) it, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel and find the golden key.
Anyway, just a bit of my two cents on this topic ;-) and if you haven't read the book yet, I'd highly recommend it. It's very much in line with the revelations that you have been describing in your last two blogs.
I'm so looking forward to meeting you in person, Erin! My neighborhood is full of retired people, though it's not a retirement community. They bought their houses 30, 40 years ago and have no mortgages. The dream :-/ Staying in one place to build equity, the major vehicle of wealth. I remember looking at that model in my 20s and 30s and thinking, no, I want to see the world...live in places and not just visit them. And of course, senior living and assisted living.... a couple of older friends are in those places and one has commented that she feels boxed away and forgotten, though it does provide some sad kind of community... I've been impressed recently with a different way I witnessed this last June, a 70-something woman who took a lease on a fabulous Victorian house in Petaluma CA and rents out rooms to other seniors. For her it is a way to live in a beautiful old home that she could otherwise never afford. I stayed there for 4 days in June. Remarkable experience. Hope we get to chat when you're in town, after we get back in November!
Just love this post and the earlier one. Having "retired" (hate that word and all it implies...) a year ago, I applaud your intentional approach to the transition to come. I sit here in my suburb and dream of something different, the next phase of life built not on how much home equity you've built up or what medical services you might need in the not-too-distant future. So Ikaria spoke to me. "They’d mention that Ikarians are different people, who concentrate on community, and their attitudes bordered on socialism." That line was enough to clinch it for me as a place I could fantasize about moving to. Beautiful writing and photography. I love how you bypass the tourist aspects and dive deep into the culture and people.
Jeanne, thank you so much! We will have to discuss in person soon :) I've felt exactly the same way. We Americans work our whole life to "retire" but when I look around I'm not feeling like the majority of retired people I know are happy or satisfied. That's why I wanted more examples. My in-laws in the Netherlands are an inspiration living in a multi-generational community and the people of Ikaria seem to be doing everything right. A friend just asked me, do they even have assisted living facilities there? I don't know, but I want to find out. My guess is no, and if that's true I'm very curious to look at how they handle those transitions. I bet there's so much more to learn from them. Thank you for the kind words!
The 11 o’clock texts! Ikarian, to be sure. Working on taking clues from your experience there, longing for this kind of change from the harried pace of my day-to-day.
Hi Erin, first of all, I love your writing. You could, without a doubt, be a book writer ;-).
I was wondering if you know the book Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life, written by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles? The book is about finding your "ikigai" (which means: your reason to exist) and the writers have researched what the secrets of living a long, fulfilling and healthy life are of Okinawa, Japan (also one of the five blue zones).
I found this book to be a real eye opener. Also, with all the technical developments (I very much recognize your struggle with technology and social media) in today's modern society, we often forget that so many 'wheels' have already been invented loooooong before we ever came into this world. And nowadays, we spent so much time and effort in trying to reinvent the wheel, by searching for 'the secrets' that bring us happiness, fulfillment, purpose, health and piece of mind. I very much believe in taking a step back and learn more from the older generations and our ancestors.
Also, I believe that indigenous people from many different areas all around the world have so much wisdom to share. They're the experts of learning from their ancestors and applying this wisdom into their own lives. I also love how many of them are 'one with the land'; they don't feel like they own it, they are part of it. They prove that human kind does not need materialism, capitalism or technology to live a wholesome and satisfactory life. We (as part of the Western culture) just need to learn the ability to step away from (some of) it, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel and find the golden key.
Anyway, just a bit of my two cents on this topic ;-) and if you haven't read the book yet, I'd highly recommend it. It's very much in line with the revelations that you have been describing in your last two blogs.
Lots of love from Utrecht!
I'm so looking forward to meeting you in person, Erin! My neighborhood is full of retired people, though it's not a retirement community. They bought their houses 30, 40 years ago and have no mortgages. The dream :-/ Staying in one place to build equity, the major vehicle of wealth. I remember looking at that model in my 20s and 30s and thinking, no, I want to see the world...live in places and not just visit them. And of course, senior living and assisted living.... a couple of older friends are in those places and one has commented that she feels boxed away and forgotten, though it does provide some sad kind of community... I've been impressed recently with a different way I witnessed this last June, a 70-something woman who took a lease on a fabulous Victorian house in Petaluma CA and rents out rooms to other seniors. For her it is a way to live in a beautiful old home that she could otherwise never afford. I stayed there for 4 days in June. Remarkable experience. Hope we get to chat when you're in town, after we get back in November!
Just love this post and the earlier one. Having "retired" (hate that word and all it implies...) a year ago, I applaud your intentional approach to the transition to come. I sit here in my suburb and dream of something different, the next phase of life built not on how much home equity you've built up or what medical services you might need in the not-too-distant future. So Ikaria spoke to me. "They’d mention that Ikarians are different people, who concentrate on community, and their attitudes bordered on socialism." That line was enough to clinch it for me as a place I could fantasize about moving to. Beautiful writing and photography. I love how you bypass the tourist aspects and dive deep into the culture and people.
Jeanne, thank you so much! We will have to discuss in person soon :) I've felt exactly the same way. We Americans work our whole life to "retire" but when I look around I'm not feeling like the majority of retired people I know are happy or satisfied. That's why I wanted more examples. My in-laws in the Netherlands are an inspiration living in a multi-generational community and the people of Ikaria seem to be doing everything right. A friend just asked me, do they even have assisted living facilities there? I don't know, but I want to find out. My guess is no, and if that's true I'm very curious to look at how they handle those transitions. I bet there's so much more to learn from them. Thank you for the kind words!
The 11 o’clock texts! Ikarian, to be sure. Working on taking clues from your experience there, longing for this kind of change from the harried pace of my day-to-day.