10,000 Days
Embracing your Ikigai Era
Photo by Alvin Lenin on Unsplash
"The Future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whomever he is."
As C.S. Lewis reminds us, no one gets any special privilege regarding the future. We are all getting there at the same time. The difference, of course, is in what we do along the way.
If you take a typical lifespan today, you get about 30,000 days of adult life, give or take. If you break it up, the first 10,000 ends as you move toward 30, the second middle to late 50s.
Those in their 50s are embarking on what will likely be their 3rd and final segment of 10,000. I’m a little into that third 10,000.
I like to say I’m mid-century modern. It sounds so much cooler than 60.
Something about the framing of 10,000-day eras gives it importance over age or a random point in life. It gave me an even greater sense of urgency about embracing my Ikigai.
Richard Rohr calls it the ‘second half'’ occurring most often in the final 10,000 though it doesn't have to.
Steven Pressfield, the author of The War of Art, refers to it as the Artist’s Journey, similar to the Hero’s Journey, only it comes in the second half that Rohr talks about.
I call it living fully into your Ikigai.
Whatever 10,000 you are in, you will reach the next one just like we all will.
What are you going to do with those days?
I am going to enjoy EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY of my last 10,000. God blessed me being able to retire at 55. For that I have promised him to be a faithful loving servant and pay it forward and give back whenever/wherever I can. I have many skill sets to share. My brother-in-law says “Our talents are gifts on loan from God. Use it or lose it”. When I thanked him over and over for helping me during the sale of my current home and the purchase of a new home…. His simple response was “Got to do what we can for each other! It’s talent on loan from GOD! Use it or lose it!” I loved his response and reflected on that quite a bit. What will I do with my talents on loan from God going into retirement? Not sure but I have prayed for guidance and calling. I surely will NOT squander his gifts🙏♥️💯. What will you do with your talents???
Such a great reflection - I turn 50 in a few months, and this definitely feels as though my second half is really getting going! It's an exciting time and I'm definitely moving towards fully living my Ikigai!