Gardening in Okinawa
In Okinawa, virtually everyone keeps a vegetable garden, and most of them also have fields of tea, mangoes, and shikuwasa. They say that anybody who wants to grow old needs an ikigai, or reason for living. Gardening gives you something to get up for every day.
Getting together at the local market and sharing the produce from their garden is an important social activity. This activity helps people feel connected and grounded. A sense of connection to other people is essential, and so is their relationship with nature. One Harvard University study showed that people surrounded by lush greenery lived longer, with a lower chance of developing cancer or respiratory illnesses. Over 100 studies have shown that being in nature, living near, or viewing nature can positively impact our lives. In particular, viewing nature appears inherently rewarding, producing a cascade of positive emotions and calming our nervous systems, which helps us cultivate greater openness, creativity, connection, generosity, and resilience.
Nature and Cities
With more than half of the world's population living in cities, we have lost touch with nature. The rat race sucks up our time and energy, leaving us feeling stressed, anxious, or like we have lost meaning. Our lives revolve around paying bills, buying things we don't need, drinking to feel something, and staring at a computer screen.
Even though we don't need to hunt for food anymore, there are straightforward ways to reconnect with nature. For example, grow a plant in your house, play with your pet, watch the sunrise, go on a trek, or sleep under the stars. Even if you can't or don't want to leave your comfortable urban life, get out there and enjoy the wilderness. If you do that regularly, you will get drawn toward nature.
