I recently finished reading this book- IKAGAI ( The Japanese secret to a Long and Happy life) , and I’m not exaggerating when I say it is literally life changing. This book is so well written, and it explains problems I’m pretty sure all of us face today. In today’s materialistic and stressful world, it can be very difficult to find your ’ikagai’- your reason to get out of bed every morning, something that makes you happy. But there are people in this world, who are over a hundred years, who are active, and happy, doing what they love! If they can be so passionate at their age, why not us? This book teaches so many lessons regarding how to nurture our friendships, and how to overcome our personal fears and anxieties, in order to lead a fulfilling life . A particular quote from the book which has struck a cord with me is this- ’being aware of the impermanence of things does not have to make us sad; it should help us love the present and those who surround us.’ This is a very important lesson, because there are certain things in life we can’t change no matter how hard we try, and we have to learn to be happy inspite of that. If we let the past control us, and worry about the future, it will destroy us. The present is the most important time of all, and we have to focus on that. Even if you haven’t found something you’re passionate about, it’s okay. It will take time, but you’ll find it. Once you find your ikagai, the wait will have been worth it. The simplest things are often the most beautiful, and this book is the perfect example of this statement. ’ Eat right, exercise, and do what makes you happy’.by following this motto, we can definitely find our ’ikagai’, our reason to live.