Review: Forest Bathing: The Rejuvenating Practice of Shinrin Yoku by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

3 stars for Forest Bathing: The Rejuvenating Practice of Shinrin Yoku by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles.

Having enjoyed reading Ikigai, I thought I will have a whale of a time reading Forest Bathing since it is written by the same set of authors, but boy, I am so wrong. I like to believe the issue is not so much the content but the translation. I really want to like this Forest Bathing book, but it is hard to make myself enjoy it for two reasons. First, the sentences are long, often too long for my liking; by the time I finish reading those long sentences, I have mostly lost sense of what they are about and I have to read them all over again, and sometimes, the same repeats itself. Second, the sentence construction - sometimes, or should I say, most times - just doesn't seems right to me. As a result, I find myself struggling to pick up the book to continue reading from where I left off each time.

This is a book that shows us the ways to boost emotional well-being and improve overall health. It guides readers to finding the connection with the natural world, and the ways to replenish our body, mind and spirt among the trees. To put it simply, this is a book on how to practice the art of Shinrin-Yoku, translated literally as "forest bathing". The book shares with us the healing and rejuvenating effects of Shinrin-Yoku. It also delves into the science of how Shinrin-Yoku - a powerful therapy for relaxing the mind and reducing stress - heals patients.

What I like most about this book is that it is filled with lovely drawings and relaxing black and white pictures of nature, of mountain, trees and bamboos. These pictures let the reader in me feel at ease while reading and gives me the feeling that it is possible to recapture the healing magic of nature, that nature is much actually closer to us than we think. And this is exactly what Shinrin-Yoku is all about. Also, I am glad that I have read the book Ikigai first as Forest Bathing refers to Ikigai and some of its content more than once. If I have not read Ikigai first, I will not have any idea what the authors are referring to.

Finally, I want to say that I can attest to the benefits of Shinrin-Yoku. Because I am a living example. I wouldn't for the life of me, have believed in the logic and explanations of Shinrin-Yoku if it has not happened to me personally. I attended a 7-day retreat in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, in May 2022. Long story short, at that time, I thought my healing is due to meditation, the quality of the food and beverage I consumed, and the way of eating. Looking back (and having read this book), I believe it is a combination of factors - meditation, mindful eating and the quality of food consumed on top of, yes, Shinrin-Yoku.

Review: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

5 stars for Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles.

I have been eyeing this book for quite some time, but I only take action to buy it during a trip to Tokyo that was decided on a whim last November. The fact that "ikigai" is a Japanese concept makes buying this hardcover book in Japan even more memorable and meaningful to me.

I have no doubt that my choice to make this book my first read of the Year will turn out to be a life-changing decision. Even as I finish reading this book, I decide there and then, that this will be my go-to book should I - ever or again - lose sight of my purpose and meaning for living. Yes, this book is that inspirational!

Though the meaning of "ikigai" is explained by the authors in the book, I am still curious as to how a Japanese, any Japanese in fact, will exlain it, so I ask a close Japanese friend of mine what "ikigai" means. Below is what he says to me.

"Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means ‘a reason for being.’ It is about finding what makes your life meaningful and worth living."

There I have it - short and sweet.

This is a book about people searching for meaning in what they do and how they live. It shares with readers the tools to finding the purpose, meaning and satisfaction of living that will lead to a joyful journey through life. It provides insights from Japanese philosophy on the lasting health of body, mind and spirit. In a nutshell, this book is about discovering our ikigai.

Besides ikigai, this book also introduces two other Japanese concepts: ichi-go ichi-e and wabi-sabi. Again, I consulted the same Japanese friend and below is what was explained to me.

"Ichi-go ichi-e" means once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

"Wabi-sabi" means beauty in simplicity and imperfection.

He explains further by saying, “Wabi-sabi” is a Japanese aesthetic concept that values the beauty found in simplicity and imperfection. For example, it appreciates the quiet elegance of an aged teacup or the tranquility of nature, focusing on understated beauty rather than extravagance or perfection.

Each of us has our own ikigai. Though it is different for all of us, we are all searching for meaning. When we spend our days feeling connected to what is meaningful to us, we live more fully; when we don't feel the connection, we live with despair.

We can find our ikigai by doing things we enjoy, and get away from or change those we dislike. We can let our curiosity lead the way, and keep busy by doing things that fill us with meaning and happiness. It doesn’t need to be a big thing; we might find meaning in helping our friends or in pursuing a hobby such as learning a musical instrument or a new language.

There is no perfect strategy to connecting with our ikigai. We just need to remember to have something that keeps us busy doing what we love while being surrounded by the people who care for us. To put it simply, I think it is the little things in life that add up to make a big difference in living.

This book concludes by sharing with readers "The ten rules of ikigai" that the authors learn from the long-living residents of Okinawa, Ogimi. Personally, I find these ten rules filled with much wisdom. At first glance, the rules may seem simple and easy enough to follow, yet it will take much determination for one to follow it through day by day. Ultimately, it all depends on how much value we place on what is important to us and making efforts to uphold the ten rules to make it our way of living.

What is your ikigai? Do you know it (or them)? If you have yet to find out what your ikigai is, as Viktor E. Frankl, author of "Man's Search for Meaning" says, your mission is to discover it.

Whoever reads this review post, I hope you will find your ikigai if you have yet to discover it. I wish you a long, happy, and purposeful life. 🙏