This is Day 657 of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Toronto, Canada.
I just spent Christmas and New Year's Day alone again this year because of the new Omicron variant that’s disrupted all our holidays. And though this has also has been an extra dark winter of seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder, SAD, winter blues) I just did my best to engage in activities that lift my spirit like watching uplifting movies and eating delicious foods.
One activity I’ve enjoyed is researching the exciting Japanese term and lifestyle called Ikigai. What immediately caught my attention about Ikigai was that it’s meaning was “reason for being”. Losing my sense of purpose usually happens during seasonal depression so I was very intrigued. It originated in Okinawa and is said to be the reason there are so many people there that live to 100 and beyond!
I watched many YouTube videos on Ikigai that inspired me to work on the chart and discover my “reason for being” because it also connects with how I can help others with their needs, through what I love and what I am skilled at. It also reveals how I can get paid for my Ikigai too.
See video: Find Your Ikigai
See video: How to Ikigai | Tim Tamashiro | TEDxYYC
Read article: Ikigai and the Four P’s: How to Get Paid, Enjoy Your Work, Solve Problems, and Find Purpose
At the same time I was recommended to see a new Netflix Christmas movie during the lonely holidays which further lifted my spirits with inspiring themes that mirrored Ikigai beliefs!
A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
The Christmas fantasy film, A Boy Called Christmas, is about an ordinary young boy called Nikolas (Henry Lawfull) setting out on an adventure into the snowy north in search of his father (Michiel Huisman) who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. The wonderful cast also includes: Toby Jones, Sally Hawkins, Kristen Wiig, Zoe Margaret Colletti, Jim Broadbent, Stephen Merchant, Joel Fry, Rune Temte and Maggie Smith.
See: movie trailer
Watch/Rent or Buy now: Amazon Prime Video
There was a wonderful, magical feeling throughout this family film thanks to all the performances and visuals! And it was also filled with inspirational quotes like:
“The universe is made of stories, not atoms.”
“Hope. We all need hope. A spark of magic to keeps us going.”
“And just like that, Nikolas had a purpose. A mission.”
“if you believe you can do something, you’re halfway there.”
Along with themes of dealing with the loss of a parent this film also focuses on finding your sense of purpose and how you can help others. Nikolas finds his purpose while saving a hidden, mythical village and then bringing their love and joy of Christmas to the sad children and people in the outside world.
The New Year of 2022 has now begun and unknown challenges may lie ahead for some of us. It could threaten to through us off coarse in pursuit our dreams and goals. Knowing our sense of purpose or reason for being could be the compass within each of us that guides us through the storms. Here's wishing you find your inner compass today!
Happy New Years All!
Join my free monthly Zoom group: High Notes Movie Club
Related Tips:
Part 1 – COVID-19 – 6 Movie Tips
Part 2 – COVID-19 – The Hundred-Foot Journey
Part 3 – COVID-19 – The Biggest Little Farm
Part 4 – COVID-19 – This Is the End
Part 5 – COVID-19 – Runaway Bride
Part 6 – Splash
Part 7 – Julie & Julia
Part 8 – Paris Can Wait
Part 9 – The Client
Part 10 – The Old Guard
Part 11 – The Farmer’s Daughter
Part 12 – Amélie
Part 13 – Hail the Conquering Hero – The Lady Eve
Part 14 – Back To School
Part 15 – Project Power – An American Pickle
Part 16 – The Secret: Dare to Dream
Part 17 – Chadwick Boseman – 42 – Black Panther
Part 18 – Phenomenon
Part 19 – Mulan 2020
Part 20 – Waitress - Labor Day - Michael
Part 21 – Enola Holmes
Part 22 – Kiss the Ground
Part 23 – Top 5 Inspiring Thanksgiving Movie Scenes
Part 24 – Hubie Halloween
Part 25 – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Part 26 – The Queen’s Gambit
Part 27 – Trading Places
Part 28 – Greenland
Part 29 – Logan’s Run
Part 30 – Moonstruck
Part 31 – Remember the Night
Part 32 – Tenet
Part 33 – Noel
Part 34 – Soul
Part 35 – Feel Good Energy of Movies & TV Shows
Part 36 – Last Holiday 1950 & 2006
Part 37 – Synchronic
Part 38 – Appetite for Love
Part 39 – Tomorrowland
Part 40 – Cinderella 2015
Part 41 – Top Secret! – Real Genius
Part 42 – Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind
Part 43 – Coming 2 America
Part 44 – In & Of Itself
Part 45 – Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Part 46 – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Part 47 – Bill & Ted Face the Music
Part 48 – Housesitter
Part 49 – Tampopo
Part 50 – You’ll Never Get Rich
Part 51 – The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Part 52 – Avatar 2009 – Forest Bathing
Part 53 – WarGames
Part 54 – Oxygen
Part 55 – Cruella
Part 56 – History is Made at Night
Part 57 – The Celestine Prophecy
Part 58 – The More the Merrier
Part 59 – Born a Champion
Part 60 – Chef
Part 62 – Free Guy
Part 63 – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Part 64 – Source Code
Part 65 – Super Me
Part 66 – Battlestar Galactica 2003
Part 67 – No Time To Die
Part 68 – The Eternals
Part 69 – They Call Me Trinity – Trinity is Still My Name
Part 70 – Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Part 71 – Spider-Man: No Way Home
Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation
Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
See website: www.MoviesForMotivation.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2022
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