Today’s blog is a bit different. I have just finished reading the book “The Café on the Edge of the World” otherwise known as the “Why Café” by the American author John Strelecky. What an inspiring book, handling challenging life questions in a simple story telling style, touching, humorous and vividly written.  I love it so that I decided to share some of the insights of the book with you today.

“The book is about a small café in the middle of nowhere that becomes the turning point in the life of John, an advertising manager, who is always in a hurry. Actually, he only wanted to take a short break, but then he discovered three questions on the menu next to the menu of the day: "Why are you here? Are you afraid of death? Do you lead a fulfilled life?" How strange, but now that he is curious, John wants to explore this secret with the help of the cook, the waitress and a guest. The questions about the meaning of life lead him to the coast of Hawaii. In the process, his attitude to life and relationships change and he learns how much one can learn from a wise green sea turtle. Thus, this journey ultimately becomes a journey to one's own self. A book that is as vividly written and humorous as it is touching.”

Why are you here?

Are you afraid of death?

Are you living a fulfilled life?

These are the type of questions that require courage to venture very far out of our comfort zone, to dig deep and be honest to ourselves. These are the type of bigger questions that lead to the bigger type of answers related to purpose and origins : Why are we here in this world? Why are we doing what we are doing? And does what we are doing lead to a fulfilled life? Are we truly happy? Tough questions that most of us usually bypass because they are uncomfortable, scary and not easily answered.  

I know a lot of people who started to reflect upon these questions as a consequence of something severe and shocking that happened in their life. When they found themselves in a situation in which they were not able to continue as before. When life kind of forced them to deal with this type of questions.

If you ask me, whether or not I have tried to answer these questions for myself. I have to say that it kind of depends, especially when it comes to whether or not  I am living a fulfilled life. I tend to make it dependent on where I stand in life, my needs and the needs of those around me. As I get older and depending on my own personal development, whether or not I am living a fulfilled life and why am I here, always have different dimensions for me. Nevertheless it is key for me not to neglect these big questions and it certainly takes a lot of courage for me to dive deep when I feel that the time is right to refresh those thoughts and find new answers.

As inspiration and food for thought, I am sharing with you some quotes from “The Café on the edge of the world“:

"To what extent my definition of success, happiness and plenitude is determined by others?”

“Why is it that we spend so much of our time preparing for when we can do what we want, instead of just doing what we want right now?”

"Without knowing exactly why I am here, and what I want to do, I just kind of do the things that most people are doing.”

"You can't do everything. No one does. That's why you should be happy about the things you have achieved"

“Most people peer through a hole in the fence and can clearly see the life they would like to have, but for all sorts of reasons they do not open the gate and do not walk towards this life.“

Now, what about you? Are those three questions possibly on top of your agenda from time to time too, or maybe even regularly? Does it take you courage to confront them? How do you mobilise that courage? Not sure how, let’s talk: contact