Ikigai....Food for Thought

At Budleigh Salterton today with a dear friend who treated me to a lovely birthday lunch.

One of the things we were talking about was what gets us up in the morning.

And how to be healthy as we age. And why do some people in certain communities live longer than others.

Ikigai (生き甲斐, pronounced [ikiɡai]) is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being." It is similar to the French phrase Raison d'être. Everyone, according to Japanese culture, has an ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search of self.

(From Wikipedia)

There is a village on the Japanese island of Okinawa with a population of 3,000 which is nicknamed the 'village of longevity' and enjoys the highest life expectancy of men and women in the world.

My sister sent me a summary of their 10 secrets to a long and happy life. Their ikigai.

The 10 rules of ikigai

Stay active, don’t retire

Those who give up the things they love doing and do well lose their purpose in life.  That’s why it is so important to keep doing things of value, making progress, bringing beauty or utility to others, helping out and shaping the world around you, even after your “official” professional activity has ended.

Take it slow

Being in a hurry is inversely proportional to quality of life.  As the old saying goes “Walk slowly and you’ll go far”.  When we leave urgency behind, life and time take on new meaning.

Don’t fill your stomach

Less is more when it comes to eating for long life.    According to the 80% rule, in order to stay healthier longer, we should eat a little less than our hunger demands instead of stuffing ourselves.

Surround yourself with friends

Friends are the best medicine, there for confiding worries over a good chat, sharing stories that brighten your day, getting advice, having fun, dreaming …. in other words, living.

Get in shape for your next birthday

Water moves; it is at its best when it flows fresh and doesn’t stagnate.  The body you move through life in needs a bit of daily maintenance to keep it running for a long time.  Plus, exercise releases hormones that make us feel happy.

Smile

A cheerful attitude is not only relaxing - it also helps makes friends.  It’s good to recognise the things that aren't so great, but we should never forget what a privilege it is to be in the here and now in a world so full of possibilities.

Reconnect with nature

Though most people live in cities these days, human beings are made to be part of the natural world.  We should return to it often to recharge our batteries.

Give thanks

To your ancestors, to nature, which provides you with the air you breathe and the food you eat, to your friends and family, to everything that brightens your days and makes you feel lucky to be alive.  Spend a moment every day giving thanks and you’ll watch your stockpile of happiness grow.

Live in the moment

Stop regretting the past and fearing the future.  Today is all you have.  Make the most of it.  Make it worth remembering.

Follow your ikigai

There is a passion inside you, a unique talent that gives meaning to your days and drives you to share the best of yourself until the very end.  If you don’t know what your ikigai is yet, as Vicktor Frankl says, your mission is to discover it.

Food for thought.

 My dessert this afternoon....unfortunately I didn't know about the 80 percent rule 'eating a little  less than your hunger demands' at this point and definitely stuffed myself.

But it was a truly delicious melt in the mouth apricot and almond tart....and I  enjoyed every mouthful....