the people of okinawa are remarkable for a few reasons. they age extremely well, their hearts are in great shape, they develop cancer,
diabetes and other chronic diseases at a low rate, and they are happy. plus, their region has the highest percentage of centenarians in the world — there are about 68 people 100 years or older for every 100,000 residents of okinawa. in canada, there are about 26 centenarians for every 100,000 people.
okinawans have a diet high in carbs with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats, all while consuming about 11 per cent fewer calories than the recommended consumption for an adult. it is a common cultural practice for okinawans to stop eating when they are 80 per cent full, and they tend to eat off smaller plates.
this very specific diet may partly explain why the people on this small group of islands live so long, but it’s certainly not the whole picture.
aside from seemingly hitting the genetic jackpot, okinawans help their cause by living active lifestyles working mostly in agriculture and fishing. they also smoke and drink less than most other populations and they get plenty of vitamin d.
maybe most importantly, okinawans maintain lifelong friendships through tight-knit communities. it is common for okinawan children to be placed into social groups as babies, eventually growing old with the same peer group. okinawan people are happy, and they cultivate a connection with the world around them by developing a deep sense of spirituality and purpose.
they also don’t have a word to describe the concept of “retirement.” instead, they have another word:
ikigai
. in japanese, “
iki
” means “life,” and “
gai
” describes value or worth.
ikigai
is essentially the concept of a “reason for being,” or purpose in life. it was my discovery of this concept that brought me to the next step in my journey. i needed to find my
ikigai
.
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