Lessons in happiness | 4 minute read

Sometimes you have to look beyond yourself, your home, and your country for inspiration.

Years ago, after a trip to Japan, I came back feeling refreshed despite the 18-hour plane ride. I think it has a lot to do with their way of life, which is baked into their words — many of which have no direct English translation.

• Ikigai. In French, it loosely translates to your “raison d’être” or reason for being. Japan has the second-best life expectancy in the world (85.3 years) because its elders maintain a reason to get up in the morning.

• Wabi-Sabi. Embracing imperfection. Finding beauty in the flawed and accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay.

• Mono no aware. The gentle sadness or sensitivity toward the ephemeral nature of things. Think cherry blossoms — beautiful because they fall so quickly.

• Komorebi: The sunlight filtering through trees. We have no single word for that soft, flickering light. Just a whole sentence.

• Shinrin-Yoku. The closest translation is forest bathing for relaxation and to improve one’s health within and among the trees.

I didn’t want to be a hiker — I didn’t want the boots, the walking sticks, or to risk my life climbing rock faces. Yet, every “hike” since COVID began (and finished) as a walking path through the woods. I didn’t need the gear, just the desire to go.

At first, I went out of desperate need for something to do with the kids.

But then, every time I returned home, I revelled in how great I felt. My mood was better, my kids were happier, and everyone slept well those nights.

Bathing yourself in leaves — the science behind why it feels so good

1. Trees give us oxygen and soak up CO2; that’s basic, grade school stuff: oxygen makes us feel better.

2. New research shows that evergreen trees secrete natural chemicals known as phytoncide, which help our immune systems. If you’re familiar with the story behind the Adirondack (or Muskoka) chair, did you know it was designed and prescribed for rest for Tuberculosis patients. Turns out, those patients also had an airborne healer.

3. Research studies from Harvard have shown that levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, decreased after a walk in the woods. Stress is at the root of headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, etcetera.

4. Researcher David Strayer found participants performed 50% better on creative problem-solving tasks after enough immersion in the wilderness.

The pebble

The challenge

Take a hike. Or go for a walk. Try for 20-30 minutes, just one day this week. Ideally, do it among trees, away from traffic and slow walkers. Note how you feel for the rest of the day. We bet the answer will be: pretty good.

And tell yourself otsukaresama. Which mean “good job” but hits much deeper. It's that you showed up and gave energy, and those things matter.

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