"Ikigai" the best medicine ever

85-year-old Japanese mom’s 5 rules for a long, happy life: ‘Complaining only leads to more complaint."

Dear Leaders,

With my deepest gratitudes, application, and hope with our boundless friends and community.

In May…, I received happy email from my dearest editor,. for the another article about my mother’s 5 rules for a long, happy and healthy life. Yes, she is recurrent cancer survivor…, lung in 2001 and both breast in 2018.

In May, 2023, at the Doahisha University, we both are alumni. She thanked her school doctor fund her lung cancer at the “new student orientation” when she was 61 years old freshman!

It was still right after my first one, so a little bit nuvous…,thought second one need to be better. I started something “ ordinally”, 1)anticancer foods, 2) conrol healthy weight, 3) have a good sleep, 4) being active…, 5) be social…, oh…, you may find same but maybe better one from Google. Nooooooop, it’s not what I have been building up for in past five years or even more. It’s needed to be hoesterey what I have been learning as her daughter thought out my life.

My mom and late dad’s motto…, “ Complaining just leads more complaint” (グチを言えばグチが入ってくる). Now, I haritate this lesson, I try.

I have never heard the word “ why I got cancer”, even the middle of her worst symptom, she said was everyone were so nice to her. As a human being, she of course honestly expressed if you could see her favorite grandchild, who are in the US, once again, which indead turn into her “ Ikigai” and it will be happening in December.

So…., I started renarrow …,

1. Back to Authentic Japanese meal… which are naturally anticancer

2. Faith and prayer

3. No complain but gratitude

4. Daily Routine.. sleeping and house chore

5. Day by Day schedule to live another happy day

6. Community and family support

7. Be independence with accepting limitation ( help!!!)

8. Be a part of medical team

9. Be pretty… she alway smiling and keeps millor everywhere

10. Be needed and share happiness

11. So…., on…

Too, much!!! I finally submit my draft’s draft, then, several back and force with my dearest smart editor…., here is the article it has been published.

85-year-old Japanese mom’s 5 rules for a long, happy life: ‘Complaining only leads to more complaints’

1. Eat foods that reduce inflammation.

When my mom was going through her cancer treatment, she emphasized traditional Japanese foods in her diet. This meant plenty of inflammation-fighting and immune system-boosting options in her kitchen ( with some cheating, it’s OK from her nutritionist Michiko, as long as she eat gratitude!!!)

• Goji berries and cinnamon as sweeteners, and super anticancer propaty

• Seaweed, ginger, kudzu and green teas like matcha, anti inflammatory

• Seafood high in omega-3 like salmon and mackerel

• Miso (fermented soybeans), nukazuke (vegetables in fermented in rice bran) and umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum)… natural probiotics

She eliminated most processed and packaged foods, including meats and animal fats, oily and fried foods, sugary snacks, dairy and alcohol.

She still maintains this mindful diet today ( with something cheat :)

We enjoyed fresh pea from neighbour’s garden and plenty of kombu( seaweed) in May

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I also…, asking to support Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Campaign , and join my monthly chat community, the third Thuesday @ 8:PM (ET) and support me by being paid subscriber.

Love and Peace, Cook Well, Eat Well, Love Yourself!

Miciko