Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Update from the Osher President

For the past year we have chosen to learn as much as we can about Japan. One thing I discovered is that the Japanese ask themselves: What is your ikigai, your reason to get up in the morning. When we were younger you went to school, worked, raised a family. When your family grew and moved on, your purpose changed. Now you have a new ikigai. The intersection of a number of things is your ikigai:

• Recognize and celebrate the fact that you are aging
• Find your purpose—the world is hungry for your talents
•Grow friendships. Relationships matter
• Find people and connect to the world
• Look forward. Discover your passion
• You are here. You have gifts to give

So let’s see all the different ways we find and use our ikigai.

As you flourish so will the world. It was hard to predict that everything would change as drastically as it did when the Spring quarter began. Wanting so much to retain our Osher connections, classes and activities, we adjusted to the new online method of presenting lectures, seminars, and discussion groups. Attendance has been extraordinary and the participation of professors who provide our lectures is wonderful. We thank everyone, especially Amy and Jorge (who made it all possible) who cooperated with this new model and hope that you will enjoy and learn throughout the rest of the year.

Summer, continuing online, promises some exciting lectures: Diane Kane returns to present 6 lectures on Japanese Architecture; Gustavo Romero will be paying tribute to Beethoven; Glenn Smith discusses the Supreme Court decisions; and a History of Medicine in 4 parts; as well as a visit from the HUBBS-SeaWorld Research Institute. These are just a few of the scheduled classes. I look forward to sharing some wonderful classes on Zoom with you and hope you will continue to enjoy good health as well as explore your ikigai.

- Carol Roberts, Osher President