Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in. – By Leonard Cohen
The reason I chose this beautiful banner photo for my book page is three fold:
- Firstly, every time I look at these joyful faces, all of them in their 60’s and 70’s except one, it warms my heart and makes me smile.
- Secondly, this photo demonstrates a group of people who are active, purposeful and full of life as they age and co-exist with the trials and tribulations of life.
- Thirdly, they represent the country, Japan, where the roots of Ikigai and Illness was first envisioned by Dr. Jinroh Itami.
I wrote my small book as a guide to help others going through illness. This perspective is not a formula or a quick fix. Rather, it is practical, and may remind you of some things you know but may have forgotten. Furthermore, it is a guide to point out some of the slippery slopes when we are living with illness and the wondrous things we can do everyday to bring meaning and joy into our lives.
I have been teaching many of these concepts for over 30 years and specifically for those with serious illness for the past 14 years. As a person who has also gone through cancer and worked with people impacted by cancer, I speak from direct experience. My hope is that you will find it useful, and inspiring to live as well as you can, in the present, and not put your life on hold until a better day.
A Few Kind Words
Here are a few kind words, early readers wrote about Ikigai and Illness: A Guide to Living Fully with Purpose, Meaning, and Joyful Moments
“A small and inspiring book based on the principles of Ikigai Ryoho for anyone struggling with a serious illness. My hope is that it will help many people live meaningful, joyful, and active lives while co-existing with illness.” – Dr. Jinroh Itami, Japanese physician and founder of Ikigai Ryoho.
“Trudy Boyle’s Ikigai and Illness provides a roadmap and a toolkit for making sense of chaos and uncertainty in everyday life. This is a book to reread and treasure.” – Patricia Ryan Madson. Professor Emerita from Stanford University and author of Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare Just Show Up.
“As an 84-year-old cancer survivor for almost 30 years, I suggest you pass along Ikigai and Illness to everyone you know.” – Barbara Sarah CSW: Founder, Director – Oncology Support Program, Health Alliance Hospital, Kingston NY and Co-Founder Circle of Friends for the Dying
“Ikigai and Illness is a brilliant and beautiful book. By integrating the principles of Meaningful Life Therapy from Japan with her own personal experience with cancer, Trudy Boyle has created a uniquely empowering and inspiring resource for those who are living with serious illness. This book is filled with joy and is a precious gift for us all.” –Linda Anderson Krech, LICSW, ToDo Institute Program Director
If you are curious
At this time, Ikigai and Illness is only available on Amazon Kindle. A sample is available, if you would like to test the waters, and a kindle isn’t necessary to read the book. You can download the free app onto your devices. Several people are looking for paper copies and I hope we have those by September. I will put the info on this page and my blog when that is so.
How Do I Get a Copy of Ikigai and Illness?
If you are Canadian please click here
If you use Amazon.com please click here
For other countries, please go to the Amazon that you usually use.
Podcast NEWS
I was recently interviewed by the brilliant and generous Paul Taylor: Neuroscientist, Exercise Physiologist, Nutritionist, PhD Scholar and all-round ‘Pracademic. This was my 1st podcast and I will give you fair warning that it is an hour and 13 minutes. If you choose to listen, you don’t have to listen all at once. It is available on several sites including Spotify and here is the link to Paul’s podcasts on his website.
I love hearing from you. You can email me at trudy@todoinstitute.org or click on my Contact form, on my website. I will get back to you asap.
If you read this small book and like it please kindly leave a short review and rating on Amazon. Apparently this is important. I deeply appreciate you stopping by here. Best wishes, Trudy
