Mind Map for My Second Life

While looking back through my handwritten notes and morning pages, I discovered a mind map about my second life. I wrote this in October 2021.

I was likely at the point where I had almost made up my mind to retire. However, it was a period where I had not yet taken action.

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October 2021: Wrote the second life mind map
Second half of 2021: Frequent trips to my parents' home to visit my father
January 2022: Informal notice of transfer to an inexperienced field
February 2022: Assumed position in the new department
March 2022: Father passed away
April 2022: Decided to resign
May 2022: Submitted resignation

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I clearly remembered that the informal notice of the position transfer was the best timing to offer my resignation, but I hesitated because of my father. Although the timing was slightly delayed, my father's passing was likely one of the triggers.

In October 2021, although my mind was made up, I wrote this mind map while I had not yet spoken about it to anyone. Looking back at it carefully, as of March 2023, I am living my second life almost exactly as I had planned.

Or rather, for several years, it felt like I had been living in this state—that is, the state of my second life—while still being a company employee.

After reflecting for several years on the prioritization of 'Health > Purpose in Life > Money' and making a decision, all that was left was to execute it. I knew that none of these three items could be achieved overnight, so I had been working on them since I was a company employee.

Up until now

'Health'

Even if you go to the gym to maintain your health, it takes time to make it a habit. More than five years have passed since I made walking and gymnastics a habit.

'Money'

Saving money is also not something that happens in a short time or a few years. Financial asset management required 30 years of time.

'Purpose in Life'

Only my purpose in life remained vague, like trying to grasp at clouds. It was effective to have many discussions with members in the workshop group I still belong to. It was significant that I was able to bring to the surface what I had originally kept hidden inside. This mind map is one example of that.

There are goals for a purpose, and means for a goal. Regarding a purpose in life, I think that the purpose, goals, and means all level up each time they are achieved, bringing me closer to my true purpose as well.

Each time I achieved a purpose, I would set a new one without even aiming to. Even while being chased by daily life, I think that chasing new purposes itself was fun, and that was my purpose in life.

It seems certain that by repeating the achievement of purposes, I am seeking a sense of fulfillment even while losing sight of my purpose or feeling a sense of loss or emptiness.

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Reading through the mind map from corner to corner again, I see a diagram where purpose and money are built on a foundation of health. This is important! It visually conveys the importance of the health foundation even more effectively than the priority order of Health > Purpose > Money.

From now on

"Health"

I am happy that I have been able to continue everything on this mind map to this day. There are no major changes, but since health only declines with aging, maintaining it is surely an achievement in itself.

Climbing the stairs in my apartment building two steps at a time has become painless, and if I make sure not to overlook such small changes, I think maintaining health can be enjoyable.

I don't think I'll ever reach the level of my sons who can take three steps at a time without a running start, but I've started to be able to do it little by little if I take a running start. Maybe I am growing.

"Money"

Money is the easiest item to simulate, so I am living my second life exactly as I mapped it out. I was able to transition from capital gains to income gains as planned, and although I am not yet living 100% off dividends, I have judged that my current state is fine.

A somewhat interesting item is "Money -> Do not use -> Think, Write"
What did I mean when I wrote this on the mind map? Currently, my continuous daily posting on note has exceeded 160 days, and I have reached 180 articles. This corresponds exactly to "thinking" and "writing".

Talk -> This must mean drinking parties, lunch with friends, or chatting; currently in progress
Read -> This must mean going to bookstores to buy books and reading them; currently in progress
Play -> This is definitely guitar; currently in progress
Sing -> This is undoubtedly playing and singing, and karaoke; currently in progress

"Thinking" and "writing" probably referred to Morning Pages. I had a habit of thinking about my own thoughts and scribbling them down in a notebook.

These "thinking" and "writing" are currently in progress on a new thought expression platform called note.

"Purpose"

This item will likely remain a challenge from here on out. It is an item that requires change rather than maintenance. Currently, while caring for my elderly mother, I have started chatting often with the elderly people in the countryside.

What I notice there is thatmaintaining the status quo and disliking change is the reality that causes everything to decline. They are already left behind by society, without even looking at it, and without the skills to notice it, they will likely just wither away like this.

Since I will eventually become an elderly person myself, interacting with multiple elderly people serves as a great cautionary tale.

According to the mind map, purpose can be read as "leaving your comfort zone, starting new things, and increasing them."

Being honest with my emotions and continuing to tackle what I want to do without hesitation will likely be the most enjoyable and happy thing for me from now on.

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I wonder what I was thinking when I wrote this myself, but none of it had stuck in my memory at all. Even so, looking back, I was able to confirm that things were going well. I guess it's okay not to remember, haha. It really is a good thing to look back on my morning pages and mind maps like this every once in a while.