Letters made of bent plastic and wire on a sandy beach near the ocean.

Finding My Ikigai... Picking up Trash

My purpose for being, Ikigai, is not very glamorous by most people's standards. God divinely provided this opportunity for me. So here, I am, nevertheless, and I absolutely adore and love it whole heartedly and with a passion. Picking up and photographing pieces of trash during weekly clean ups. Bottom line is to provide a different point of view in hopes of increasing awareness and provoke thought.

For my part, more importantly action. External Action for ongoing tidying up of a shared planet concept as an ongoing practice. Internal Action to dig deep and tidy, mend and heal within myself within. They are both intertwined and connected. Sometimes so much so, it is like searching for the end of a tangled ball of string.

Ikigai, as I understand, is composed of four elements and four sub-elements. They are listed below.

Heart shape drawn in sand with a white object casting a shadow.

What I Love...

Passion

My hope is that my images and website convey this to a lesser or greater degree.

As well as my continual partnership with light, rock, shadow, water and oddly enough trash to spark my creativity and gain further insight into the External and Internal connections.

Plus, my ongoing stewardship relationship that is both harmonious and benevolent within nature, myself and others.

Shadow art on sand using a bag and a person's shadow.

Something I Am Good At...

Vocation/Talent

The biggest lie ever told. I can not make a difference. At fifty seven years old, I have heard this from others and unfortunately told and believed it myself.

To be honest is my desire to create a vast new career for myself. While making a difference cleaning the environment and promote activism.

Besides. this stewardship business suites me and makes the clean up area residents and visitors unknowingly more enjoyable, safer and happy too.

What an tremendous honor if this becomes my legacy.

The word 'change' written in the sand near ocean waves.

Getting Paid...

Profession - Financial Reward and/or Personal Growth

Just think, this all started when I was unemployed, not collecting Unemployment Insurance Benefits. My nickel. My time. My commitment to give back.

Giving back to a place that has provided so much for me and prompted so many change within me.

I sincerely believe that payment comes in many forms. But, to be fully transparent as a clear plastic bag littering the beach, I am working to make this my career. My livelihood. My State of Being.

One, that I can be proud of. One, that makes a difference. One, that explores different means of thought and communication. One, that connects communities, people, and a shared vision and mission.

A peace symbol made of sticks inside a circular ring on a beach at sunset.

What the World Needs...

Mission

Pretty self explanatory up this point. I hope...

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world" - Ghandi

Lastly and more importantly

Use the gifts that I have received to serve others, as a faithful steward of God's good grace in all it various forms. - Paraphrase from 1 Peter 4:10 and 11.

Simply put - Pay it Forward.

Kaizen