By Victor Ochieng’
vochieng.90@gmail.com
For those who are looking for a heroic book to read in 2023, I recommend Ikigai: the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles. It is a true treasure trove to readers with a deep desire for healthy, happy and long life.
Foremost, I leant about the great text when I visited Kapsabet Girls in Nandi County. After addressing 2022 candidate class on Best Academic Practices, we ambled to the office with the Chief Principal, Mrs. Mary Kiprop. Our chat with that wise and winsome woman revolved around what as scribe I can describe: Candid conversation concerning classics. She implored me to read ‘Ikigai’.
Therefore, when I zoomed back to the trendiest town, I searched for it with real zeal and zest. Serendipitously, I got it. Bought it. Read it for the umpteenth time. Lending credence to wise words of Nassim Taleb, “A good book gets better at the second reading, a great book at the third reading. No book is quite the same when you read it again.”
Actually, I longed to know the meaning of ‘ikigai’. I thought about it as I started reading the prolegomenon part. Then, I realised that in the Japanese tongue, ‘iki’ means life, while ‘gai’ means value or worth. Indeed, ‘ikigai’ is a profound Japanese philosophy, which abuts on a life rife with worth. Life replete with purpose and passion. Finding the reason to bolt out of bed on daily basis. Therefore, ‘ikigai’ oscillates around four fascinating factors: One, what you love (passion). Two, what the world needs (mission). Three, what you are good at (profession). Four, what they can pay you for (vocation).
Moreover, the iconic book talks about Blue Zones, logotherapy, ‘tai chi’, yoga, flow and resilience or anti-fragility. Above all, the central plank is the sweet secret to long and happy life. Apparently, there are five regions in the world, where people live long. There is Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Loma Linda in California, Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica and Ikaria in Greece.
In a broader sense, flow is a state in which we are deeply involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter. The experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at a great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it. Aptly put, yoga in Sanskrit is ‘yoke’, which refers to the crosspiece that binds draft animals to one another and to the cart; they are pulling. ‘Tai chi’ also known as ‘t’ai chi chuan or taijiquan’ is a Chinese martial art connected to Buddhism and Confucianism. It is an internal martial focusing on personal growth, self-defence, agility and alacrity.
In addition, Japanese rank second in the world in matters life expectancy. Most women live up to 88 and men 81. Okinawa Island, South of the mainland, has the highest proportion of people who live beyond 100 years. ‘Ikigai’ plays an integral role in their heroic culture. To augment the argument, spiritual disciplines such as meditation, contribute to longevity. Apart from being a source of spiritual strength, wit and wisdom, it strengthens the immune system and promotes natural production of insulin. It also does something to the grey matter in the brain. It also prevents body weakness, sickness and osteoporosis – feebleness of bones.
Again, there is Morita Therapy, which focuses on training patients to accept their emotions without trying to control them, since their feelings will change due to their actions. Consequently, there is logotherapy, a psychological concept whose proponent is Victor Frankl, the putative author of Man’s Search for Meaning. In logotherapy, patients sit straight and listen to things that are, on occasion, hard to hear. Through it all, they find reasons to live and re-discover the purpose of life and confront their neuroses.
Then, there is the healthy eating habit as a secret to happy and long life. There is a sagacious saying in Japan “Hara hachi bu”, repeated before or after eating. It means, “Fill your belly to 80 per cent.” Avarice is a vice. This is why Okinawans stop eating when they feel they are 80 per cent satiated.
Again, they do not over-eat because it weakens bodies with long digestive processes, which in turn accelerates cellular oxidation. They know that melatonin enhances youthfulness. Although, its production decreases after age 30. People compensate for it by eating balanced diet, getting more calcium, soaking up a moderate amount of sun each day, getting quality sleep, avoiding stress, alcohol and tobacco. Eating plant proteins and vegetables. Okinawans consume at least seven types of fruits and vegetables on daily basis.
Finally, keeping the mortal mind agile is an anti-aging secret. Neurons start aging in our 20s. However, intellectual activity, curiosity and ravenous desire to learn, enhances happiness and long life.
The writer is an avid reader, editor, author and public speaker.
