What the heck is eudaimonia?
I was listening to the The Happiness Lab podcast last year on one of my many pandemic lockdown walks and learned this word, eudaimonia. Essentially, it’s an ancient Greek word for the ‘good spirit’ and commonly translated as happiness or welfare.
At the time, I had been about halfway through my comprehensive Pilates training, serving on city council, working a full time job, homeschooling the kids, co-creating the web series “What’s the Big Deal?” and generally flourishing at a time when the world was trying to survive and cope with a global pandemic. This notion of eudaimonia just helped me look at all these seemingly disparate activities/parts of myself and snap them into focus. Aside from drinking a bottle of wine a day (I’ve since cut way back to a glass a day), I really was feeling a sort of whole being wellness. I had a glimpse of a thought. How can I sort of bundle all my skills and gifts and share them with the world to help inch us toward more whole versions of ourselves? That was when The Eudaimonia Movement was conceived.
I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit, though it was conceived in Fall 2020, I’m just now taking concrete steps to make it more of a reality. In fact, I sort of ran away from it and buried myself in work, pushing myself toward total burnout. However, earlier this summer, on 22 June, I made a declaration. That declaration is as follows:
“For so many years, I’ve used my super powers to bring other people’s visions to life, often neglecting my passions. Now is the time to commit to me, while maintaining the dedication to building others up, fostering joy and spreading the seeds of understanding, acceptance and respect for all people. And I’ll do that through this project. Which in turn will also give me a bigger platform to spread this movement of joy.”
Pretty lofty statement, eh? (I don’t even think I had any wine that day. That’s pure, uncut Jess.) I’ve currently got projects percolating on this front:
Project 1: I’m writing a script for a TV series I will produce. More details to follow.
Project 2: I’m putting together a structured plan for The Eudaimonia Movement.
Ideally, I’d like to get some rich person or foundation to pay for me to do this work so that I don’t have to charge participants. I remember what it was like when I couldn’t afford to think beyond the items needed for survival. When I’d laugh (and then cry) at the thought of paying big money for fitness classes, coaching or help with business plans, etc. I do not take my current station in life for granted. I was able to get here because people invested in and helped me along the way. I also know that what I have to offer is valuable and I can’t do it all for free. Yet. We’ll get there.
Guys, this is a lot of rambling just to say, I love to laugh. I love to love. And throughout my 40+ years on this lovely planet, I’ve acquired a lot of cool shit that I want to share with you. So if you’re keen to see how this story continues, watch this space for progress updates and calls to action.
Oh, and one more thing. Henry asked me to be in his band as the drummer (I’m not a drummer, but I can learn and according to him, I’m reliable). I’m honored to be chosen. He’s going somewhere with this music stuff, folks.