Ikigai : the Japanese secret to a long and happy life pdfdrive com

3. Nurture your friendships every day

“Getting together with my friends is my most important ikigai. We all get together here and talk—it’s very important. I always know I’ll see them all here tomorrow, and that’s one of my favorite things in life.”
“My main hobby is getting together with friends and neighbors.”
“Talking each day with the people you love, that’s the secret to a long life.”
“I say, ‘Hello!’ and ‘See you later!’ to the children on their way to school, and wave at everyone who goes by me in their car. ‘Drive safely!’ I say. Between 7:20 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., I’m outside on my feet the whole time, saying hello to people. Once everyone’s gone, I go back inside.”
“Chatting and drinking tea with my neighbors. That’s the best thing in life. And singing together.”
“I wake up at five every morning, leave the house, and walk to the sea. Then I go to a friend’s house and we have tea together. That’s the secret to long life: getting together with people, and going from place to place.”

4. Live an unhurried life

“My secret to a long life is always saying to myself, ‘Slow down,’ and ‘Relax.’ Y ou live much longer if you’re not in a hurry.”
“I make things with wicker. That’s my ikigai. The first thing I do when I wake up is pray. Then I do my exercises and eat breakfast. At seven I calmly start working on my wicker. When I get tired at five, I go visit my friends.”
“Doing many different things every day. Always staying busy, but doing one thing at a time, without getting overwhelmed.”
“The secret to long life is going to bed early, waking up early, and going for a walk. L iving peacefully and enjoying the little things. Getting along with your friends. Spring, summer, fall, winter . . . enjoying each season, happily.”

5. Be optimistic

“Every day I say to myself, ‘Today will be full of health and energy. L ive it to the fullest.’”
“I’m ninety-eight, but consider myself young. I still have so much to do.”
“L augh. L aughter is the most important thing. I laugh wherever I go.”
“I’m going to live to be a hundred. Of course I am! It’s a huge motivation for me.”
“Dancing and singing with your grandchildren is the best thing in life.”
“I feel very fortunate to have been born here. I give thanks for it every day.”
“The most important thing in Ogimi, in life, is to keep smiling.”
“I do volunteer work to give back to the village a bit of what it has given to me. For example, I use my car to help friends get to the hospital.”
“There’s no secret to it. The trick is just to live.”