Dear Esteemed Members, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hope this message finds you in good health and cheerful spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While planning a trip to Japan and gathering information, I came across an international bestseller book titled IKIGAI (The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life). It introduced me to a beautiful philosophy that resonated deeply. IKIGAI, which means \u201ca reason for being\u201d, teaches us to live each day with purpose, positivity, and balance. At this meaningful stage of our lives, embracing such wisdom feels especially pertinent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inspired by the remarkable longevity and happiness of the people of Okinawa, Japan, I wish to share with you the 10 Rules of IKIGAI, along with a few simple and practical ways we can incorporate them into our daily routines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Stay Active \u2013 Don\u2019t Retire from Life. Keep your mind and body engaged. Begin your day with gentle yoga, gardening, reading, or even picking up a new hobby like painting or playing a musical instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Take Life Slowly \u2013 There\u2019s No Need to Hurry. Enjoy each moment instead of rushing through your day. Sip your morning tea slowly, take leisurely walks in the park, or enjoy your hobby without watching the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Eat Moderately \u2013 Follow the 80% Rule. Eat until your stomach feels 80% full. This aids digestion and prevents lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity. Serve smaller portions, eat mindfully and avoid overeating at social gatherings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Surround Yourself with Good Friends. Social connection is an excellent way to reduce stress and lift your mood. Participate in our Association\u2019s group activities, meet friends for evening walks, or simply sit together and share a hearty laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Keep Moving \u2013 Stay Physically Active. <\/strong>Physical movement keeps the body fit and the mind agile. Simple morning stretches, light exercises, or even household chores like rearranging things or watering plants can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Smile More Often \u2013 Keep a Positive Outlook. A smile can brighten your mood and also spread joy to those around you. Greet others with a smile, share a light joke or recall a happy memory to boost your spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Reconnect with nature. Spending time outdoors can lower stress and boost mental well-being. Walk barefoot on the grass, sit beneath a tree, or tend to a small balcony garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Practice gratitude \u2013 Be thankful every day. Gratitude helps us focus on the positives in life. Before bed, think of three things you were grateful for that day\u2014a friendly chat, good food, or simply a sunny morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. Live in the moment \u2013 enjoy today. Don\u2019t dwell too much on the past or worry excessively about the future. Enjoy your cup of tea, appreciate the song of a bird, or simply feel the breeze on your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10. Find Your Ikigai \u2013 Your reason for waking up every morning. This could be anything that brings your life purpose and happiness. Assisting grandchildren with homework, teaching someone a skill you possess, volunteering for community activities, or even revisiting an old hobby like knitting or playing music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I explored these enduring principles of Ikigai, I couldn\u2019t help but reflect on how closely they resonate with the way many of us have led our lives\u2014with purpose, discipline, compassion, and joy in simple pleasures. However, it is always worthwhile to pause and remind ourselves that happiness and longevity are not found in big achievements or grand plans, but in small daily acts of gratitude, positivity, and staying connected\u2014with friends, family, and the world around us. Let us internalise these beautiful lessons in our own way and at our own pace, making every day meaningful and worth living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wishing each one of you continued good health, inner peace, and a purposeful life ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Warm regards,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brig JS Jagdev <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear Esteemed Members, I hope this message finds you in good health and cheerful spirits. While planning a trip to Japan and gathering information, I came across an international bestseller… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-presidents-message"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5073"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5074,"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5073\/revisions\/5074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mscamohali.com\/w\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}