A study conducted by the National Institute of Aging confirmed a correlation between sense of purpose and longevity. Individuals who had clearer goals in life lived longer and had greater mental acuity than those who did not.

Exhaustion comes not just from doing “too much”, but also, not doing enough of the things that align with your purpose. Okinawa, Japan is home to some of the longest-living people in the world. It is part of the “Blue Zones,” which are regions of the world that are known for their above-average longevity rates. One key contributor to Okinawans’ longevity is a strong sense of purpose, or “Ikigai,” which motivates individuals to stay active & connected to others across the lifespan. Ikigai translates to “that which makes life worth living”. It’s the intersection of what you love, what the world needs, what you’re good at, and what you can be paid for.

Today, take 5 minutes to reflect on your purpose in life. Then, schedule time to pursue your purpose this week.

Well-being is more than merely the health of your physical body. It’s also rooted in your ability to meaningfully connect with yourself, and those around you.

It’s January 2024. So chances are, you’ve been peppered by an innumerable amount of perfectly curated advertisements, telling you what “wellness” is.

The perfectly color-coded household, with all the kid’s toy’s marie-kondoed. The model with the impeccable hourglass body drinking a green juice on her way to yoga class. Another expensive face mask that’s allegedly the panacea to life’s stresses.

It’s exhausting. When your home is messier than it could be, and there’s never enough time in the day. When you’ve tried going to the gym, but feel intimidated by everyone else who seems to being benching heavier weights or running faster on the treadmills. When all you want to do is enjoy that little piece of dark chocolate after your 2 hour long commute, but are haunted by the screams of the latest health influencer denouncing all sugar as evil.

“Wellness” is a word that comes with baggage for many of us. It feels like something superficial & material driven. A luxury reserved for people who have their life “put together”. But here at Cherish, we’re here to reimagine wellness. Wellness for real life, with all it’s stressors and chaos.

Wellness does not need to be productive, presentable, aesthetically pleasing, or fancy. For some, it looks like waking up at 6 am to go to yoga. For others, it means taking 5 minutes while the tea is boiling to reflect & celebrate the progress you’ve made, and presently enjoying that tea cup, watching the steam dance through the air, instead of hurriedly checking emails on your phone (trust me, they can wait).

It takes courage to pursue wellness amidst the busyness. We’re here to support you along the way.

Imagine today’s your last day on earth. Would you have any regrets?

In palliative carer Bronnie Ware’s book, “Regrets of the Dying,” she explains that the top 5 regrets of the dying are:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

Amid the hurriedness and seemingly endless pursuit of more: more stuff, more money, more accolades. Amid the push and pull of countless responsibilities. Amid the suffocating pressure that no matter how hard you try to optimize, there’s never enough time in the day.

We wonder-what is the purpose of life? By looking at the top regrets of the dying, we can infer that a life well lived is one that defines success as more than numbers and to-do lists.

It’s a life of meaningful connection. Happiness, courage, balance.

As you read this, you’re likely wrestling with a sense of regret. Overwhelmed by how to prioritize when everything feels important. What even is happiness? Who even am I?

But the good news is: every moment is a fresh start. It’s tempting to resign to “it’s too late, what’s the point?” But if you don’t begin with that first tiny step, you’ll miss out on the chance to explore an uncharted journey.

At Cherish, we’re here to empower you to take those tiny steps, even when they seem futile or impossible. Through balancing evidence-backed science & reality-tested encouragement, we hope to provide you with practictical action plans, while also sharing stories of inspiration to keep you hopeful throughout your wellness journey.

Cheers to an unregrettable life!