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Book Review: Ikigai

Author: Hector Garcia and Francex Miralles (Translated by Heather Cleary) 

Ikigai as it is said in the book –is a mysterious word. It loosely translates to mean the Art of staying young while growing old. The book is all about the story of Japanese people who have lived over a hundred years of age and more.

 

The content is simple yet very profound and fascinating on humanity’s architecture –long life, faith and in fact, one wholistic approach to a beautiful and healthy lifestyle in harmony with the world around us. I found it irrepressible and so relevant to all walks of life –race, gender, nationality. 

  

I am deeply moved by the concept of not retiring. It wasn’t uncommon to find Japanese people remain active even after they retire. They keep doing what they love for as long as their health permits. This is what we must learn and adopt individually. Ikigai brings satisfaction, happiness and meaning to lives. 

 

I felt so close reading through the 80 percent secret. Fill your belly to 80 percent of the stomach size. However, one thing that triggered me was, can it be possible here in a Bhutanese society? We love to blust our belly to 110 percent and carry a malnourished belly for the rest of our life. Anyway, it is up to the individual. I have been practicing this for many years. I hate having a fat tummy! The secret is within us. 

 

This book has given me an overview of the life philosophies of a few international champions of longevity, about supercentenarians –people who live to 110 years of age or more. They were all superheroes, which came at the cost of great self-care and discipline in eating and sleeping. 

 

The other advice laid in the book was, the secret in smiling and having a good time. Japanese people strongly believe in the coexistence of mountains, rivers, sea, trees, earth, wind and animals. It's important to show each element a great respect. Therefore, believing in all these elements makes them closer to nature and life and makes their mental wellbeing strong.

 

The game of gateball was seen as one key secret to long life. However, playing this game at 104 years old is something we must deeply ponder upon when in our society at 56 to 60 years, most of the people retire to enter a solitary(religious) life and become insensitive to everything. From then they hardly grasp and thumb around for any task or exercise, which makes them susceptible to attack by many lifestyle  diseases. In addition to playing and celebrating as a community, spirituality is also essential to happiness and long life. 

 

We must learn to remain busy and engaged with small or little activity throughout the day. The other secret is eating a lot of home grown vegetables, green tea, shikuwasa juice and spring water.

 

I have a huge admiration and regard for the people of Japan for creating so many beautiful things including a very complicated toilet system. 

 

 

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