Stay open to the wonders of the world — According to George Saunders, a work of art “has to surprise its audience, which it can do only if it has legitimately surprised its creator.” When I read that, I realized I’m not creating art. Not by a long shot. I spend heaps of time bound up, worried, self-flagellating, fighting…

Recognize you, then be happy Today, I want to talk to you about a phenomenon: self-blame. I am no stranger to self-blaming, and the voice of self-blaming will automatically come out from time to time, spurring me to the full. …

It’s also about helping yourself — Tree huggers and tree sitters. There are plenty of labels that have emerged over the years to refer to the people intent on protecting the trees and forests across the globe. And while some tree huggers have simply linked arms around the trees to buy time and stave off development…

About 6 months after I moved to Tokyo from Los Angeles the honeymoon phase of living in Japan wore off and I transitioned into what is referred to as the “rejection phase” of culture shock. In other words, I was stressed and depressed and I wanted to go home. The…

I had the most beautiful walk yesterday, it felt so positive uplifting and revitalizing. It often happens when life is busy and I don’t have time to step out into the woods that when I do return it is as if the experience is new. …

This 5,000-year-old philosophy emphasizes fresh air and freedom — Imagine a world where our bosses urged us to get out of the office early on a Friday and gave us an extra two days off, just so we can take a skiing trip down to his cabin. …

Harvard physician Paul Dudley White, the ‘father of American cardiology’, believed that a brisk, five mile walk every day is as good a remedy for a restless mind as anything the worlds of medicine and psychology have to offer. Many literary notables, from Charles Dickens to Will Self, have written…

If science is sure about anything, it’s that walking and nature are good for you. One recent study showed walking just 15 minutes a day can add years to your life, while a prominent neuroscientist called walking “a superpower.” …