The return flight home from Nashville, home of the AAU XC Junior Olympic Championships, was due to be a long one - five hours to Portland. This pales in comparison to an international flight, but five hours from somewhere that doesn’t feel all that east coast sure takes a long time! I have to remind myself that it’s a 2,000 mile trip, and the plane only goes so fast. Regardless, I knew I’d have to keep myself busy for the sake of sanity.
Insert nosiness.
I am always curious about what people do for a living. From Ryan, the gentleman sitting beside me on the plane, to the parents involved with the team, or my fellow runners in the community. I am not sure where the curiosity stems; maybe the lack of exploring careers as a youth is tapping on my shoulder. Maybe I’ve been teaching so long, I can’t help but wonder what past students have made for themselves. Regardless of the motive, learning what people do for a living is something I find fascinating!
Perhaps six years ago, I recall asking a Whisper dad what he did for a living. His reply was that he was a producer of boxes, which I believe were of the corrugated variety. I then asked the inspiration behind choosing such an interesting career. After all, does anyone grow up dreaming of being a cardboard box manufacturer? Does one reap authentic joy from the production of boxes? Or is this the sort of career where one winds up after a prolonged engineering path?
Other interesting careers I’ve come across in recent years: Coca Cola Bottling Company facility manager (I even got a tour of the plant!), produce delivery driver (gets to drive a truck AND a forklift!), fire fighter, a slew of teachers (boring), lawyers, tech nerds (you know who you are!), nurses, ER doc, pharmacists, postal workers, stay-at-home parents…you name it, they’ve come through the program.
On Saturday’s return flight from Nashville, poor Ryan was the sucker of the day who had to listen to my incessant inquiries. Ryan is 21, single, no kids, from Alaska, living in Chattanooga, flying to visit friends in Alaska for the week, and had a 10-hour lay-over in Portland ahead of him. Kaci, my wife, said I couldn’t bring him home to crash, however, I do regret not taking him out on the town for a few hours, as there are countless food and fun options we could have explored during his time between flights.
When asking Ryan about his job (he looked like a boy, so in my mind, whatever he did for a living had to be a job, right?), and with a sparkle in his eye, he said, “I’m a police officer for the city of Chattanooga!” I could tell, Ryan had emotionally capitalized on his dream of becoming a police officer. He said he had wanted to be a police officer since high school, and though he works nights now, which was clearly exhausting, he dreamt of being on the force for the rest of his life.
This is Ryan’s Disneyland.
Disneyland, in my eyes, is an amazing place! Truly magical. A place where I’m not thinking about my greatest fears - usually planetary-health related (climate change, pollution, etc. - I’ll lay these on your plate), but rather, seeking a photo with Pluto, attaining Mickey’s autograph, downing two caramel apples a day, and then deciding which ride to go on.
Whisper is our Disneyland.
It’s a place that pauses time, where boundless joy sets the stage. Stepping foot onto the track is similar to stepping onto the field in Field of Dreams, symbolizing the fulfillment of a dream, connecting with the past, or in this case, the kids connecting with their future. Collectively working, seeking improvement. This is our ikigai.
Psychology Today articles define ikigai as the Japanese concept of "reason for being," a compass for finding purpose and fulfillment by integrating what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for, leading to better health, resilience, and longevity, encompassing both big life goals and small daily joys.
Are you living your ikigai?
Not everybody can work at Disneyland, but if you are fortunate to love what you do, “you’ll never work a day in your life.” So, ponder the following:
What brings meaning to your life?
What would you do right now if you had no fear?
Where do you find yourself being fully present in your life?
What is your gift that you share with the world?
What would make life feel ridiculously fun?
Having a space to explore these kinds of questions—along with so many others—is at the heart of meaningful health coaching. My friend and former colleague, Laura, is offering several opportunities to help you gain clarity around your ikigai and reconnect with what matters most.
This month, she’s hosting a number of complimentary workshops, and beginning in January, she’ll be leading a four-week series designed to help you pause, reflect, and define what health and wellness truly mean to you.
If you’re feeling ready to get unstuck, deepen your self-awareness, or simply carve out time for yourself, these sessions are a wonderful place to start.
Sign up here: https://www.laurademeri.com/store/courses Use the code Whisper to receive a 20% discount for the four-week series.