The little rituals in our daily routines

One of my greatest current achievements is a 1,905 day practice streak in the Duolingo language learning app.

I'm currently doing Spanish, but - aside from some Latin - have focused mainly on French.

I don't think I've actually learned much of any of those languages. But I have discovered how to get ahead in Duolingo rankings.

I worked my way to the top 'Diamond' league and stayed there for nearly two years.

I did this by endlessly practising the same basic lessons, before deciding that - for me - being a Duolingo high flyer was pointless.

I wasn't improving my language skills, and I didn't even have such a strong desire to do so.

I tell myself that I use it as a waking up exercise the moment I open my eyes each morning, and that is true enough.

But I was somewhat enlightened by a piece in this week's Economist magazine, on the Western adaption of a Japanese concept - ikigai - which refers to a sense of purpose in life.

The article begins with the example of a Canadian businessman who felt empty after spending most of his life climbing the corporate ladder at a global shipping firm.

His moment of truth came when he discovered a Venn diagram with four circles labelled 'what you love', 'what you're good at', 'what the world needs', and 'what you can be paid for'.

At the intersection of the four circles was the word ikigai.

For me, there were questions to ponder which help discern the purpose there is for me in continuing a modest level of Duolingo practice.

So I can acknowledge that I am curious about languages. I have staying power. The world needs people who are aware that many others are most comfortable in languages other than English. And there is some utility for me if I'm travelling and manage to build a bridge with someone by using a word or phrase of their language.

But it turns out that the Western corporate life coaches have a more calculating understanding of ikigai than the Japanese, who see it as a simple honouring of 'the little rituals in their daily routines'.