https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/12/health/ikigai-longevity-happiness-living-to-100-wisdom-project/index.html
The Island of Okinawa has the longest life expectancy in the world, believing in the Japanese philosophy, Ikigai, which can be simplified into "do what you love to do". The residents laugh and smile all the time, and are known to live over 100 years of age with a lower likelihood of chronic diseases, such as cancer. Researchers say it roots from spending time with those you love, staying active, and getting sleep; things we have all heard before. Yet, add these with Ikigai, and you'll live a longer life. You can find your Ikigai by asking yourself, "Why do you get up in the morning?" or, "What motivates you?" Ikigai does not have to be complicated, it can be big or small. Interestingly, the Japanese don't have a word for retire, they just keep doing what they love until they pass. Advice from those on the island? Follow your intuition and curiosity. Find the activity you love and surround yourself with the people you love. Follow your bliss.
I had no previous knowledge of this island that devotes their life to this Japanese philosophy, however the reasonings behind their long lives are things I feel as though have been repeated to us over and over, that I wonder if I even believed it was true or just something everyone says. I feel as though this can relate to religion during the Second Great Awakening, the religious movements surrounded the belief of doing what you believe in, and all about personal thoughts and morals. Ikigai is all about your personal motivation in life, and pursuing your passion everyday.
This is a very interesting life philosophy, and as you noted, almost seems to be deja vu. Although as simple as the idea sounds, for most it is much more complicated to apply to everyday life, and therefore would be fascinating to explore the reasons people do not strive towards objectives such as these.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your article because I love learning about health and life expectancies(and how health effects your life expectancy). The fact that there is not a word for retire in Japanese makes a lot of sense. Now that I think about it, "retire" wouldn't have to be a word if people enjoyed what they did for the most part. A lot of people in America work most of their life and then retire to enjoy their life, but why? We should always be living our lives and shouldn't have to wait a certain amount of time to do and go where we want. People shouldn't be miserable their whole life until they retire. I will definitely learn more about this and hopefully apply some of it to my own life.
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