Uncover the simple secrets to living a long and happy life from a 90-year-old blind woman named Ms. Kazuko Tanaka. Despite losing her eyesight at the age of 48, she leads a fulfilling life in Tokyo and remains in good health.
This is the last episode of this series. In the first episode, we shared Ms. Tanaka's story and the key mindset that contribute to her happiness. In the second one, we explored how she overcame feelings of despair. And in this episode, We’ll share her daily life.
While she is visually disabled, she doesn’t take any medication and stays healthy. I wanted to find out what makes her so healthy and happy.
These are her secrets.
Simple Diet
“I am healthy. Health checkups have found nothing. Partly because I was born healthy. But what we eat is the most important,” said Tanaka.
“My diet is simple. I try not to eat luxurious foods with high calorific values, even though I sometimes want to eat them. Instead, I eat a lot of vegetables, meat, and fish.”
“My breakfast is simple. For example, natto, egg, pan-fried vegetables with meat, boiled vegetables, and miso soup,” she added. (*Natto is a fermented soybean. One of Japan's traditional foods.)
“I don’t eat so many dishes now but it is enough for me as I grow older.”
She has balanced meals – vegetables and protein. Simple meals are beneficial for health as “luxurious foods tend to contain high cholesterol,” she said.
As she was asked not to use gas at her place, she cannot cook on her own. So, her helper prepares meals for her. She cooked on her own until 85 years old.
“What I ate in my childhood also made me healthy. I didn’t eat white rice but ate barley. It became more delicious when we added powdered corn.” “My dad used to buy a box of herrings. It was very good.” Herrings are a famous fish in Hokkaido, her hometown.
Gratitude
During the interview with her, I had never heard her say any negative words about her life. Instead, she expressed a lot of gratitude.
“I eat with gratitude.”
“I love thanking people. I never forget being grateful”
It might be a cliche, but gratitude is the source of happiness.
When we are thankful for what we take for granted, we get happier and happier and also we attract more happiness. Please thank your environment for small things like “I am grateful that I could eat breakfast today.”
Gratitude is the secret to health and happiness. Research shows practicing gratitude improves our immunity. When we are grateful, we don’t feel pressure or stress. When we are grateful, people around us are also happy.
Praising others
We conceptually know giving compliments is a good thing but we are not always willing to praise others. According to my mentor, it is because of our narrow minds and envy.
But Ms. Tanaka is different. She praises others generously.
She said during the interview
“The head of Setagaya Ward is amazing. He initiated a lot of things for blind people.”
“My grandparents were great.”
And to me, touching my hands, “Your hands were so feminine.”
Touching my clothes, “You are wearing such a pretty dress.”
A talent to praise others is much more valuable than a talent to be praised, according to the mentor, because talented people are attracted to those who can praise others.
💝 💝 💝. 💝. 💝. 💝. 💝. 💝 💝 💝. 💝. 💝 💝
I was so inspired by this lovely lady and her positive mindset. Your existence made me feel so energized, encouraged, and joyful. Thank you very much for being a shining example of how to live a happy life, even in the face of adversity.
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