Did you know that Japan has the highest life expectancy of any country?
Kempton in her book, Wabi Sabi, reports this to be due to three factors:
A high standard of public health.
A high level of health awareness.
Meaningful and purposeful life activities.
She concludes, “It’s not just about living long. It’s also about living well.”
I can concur with this sentiment. If there is anything I do that might be considered healthy it has more to do with the quality of my life now vs trying to extend my life as long as possible.
If I am able to keep up with my grandsons, live with relatively few aches and pains, and continue to be illness free, then I figure I must be on the right track.
There is a concept in Japan known as ikigai which has to do with waking up each morning with some sort of purpose in your life. I have deemed this season of my retirement as an opportunity to care for my grandsons, and help my daughter where I can.
The three mornings a week that I arise early, and hit the road to my daughter’s house are opportunities for purposeful, meaningful work.
When this season is over I’m sure I will be looking for that next door to open.
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