RAYMOND^ PAT
RICK46 AFAR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
wander
- Joie de Vivre
What it is: The French may
have coined the phrase, which
means “joy of living,” but
Canadians are better at finding
joy in everything. It doesn’t
matter how much snow is on the
ground or how far they have
to drive, Canadians’ particular
brand of joie de vivre says, we’re
open to anything, anyone, and
any weather—we’ll try it all.
How to find it: Start in Montreal,
the City of Festivals. Grab a beer
and study the Québécois approach
to celebrations: Here, events aren’t
cozy or small. They sprawl across
the city, and locals fill the streets
for every imaginable reason—jazz,
heavy metal, grand prix, Pride,
poutine. Then there’s our northern
neighbors’ openness to embracing
the outdoors in all seasons and
for all activities. Russell laughs and
explains: “I couldn’t find any sta-
tistics on it, but every Canadian
I talked to [about where to find joie
de vivre] was like ‘ice hockey and,
oh yeah, canoe sex.’ ” - Wabi Sabi
What it is: Wabi translates to
“simplicity” and sabi means
“the beauty of age and wear.”
Together, they convey the idea
that happiness is achieved by
appreciating imperfection
and transience. Observing the
changes of the natural world—
growth as well as decay—is one
way to tune in to wabi sabi.
How to find it: “Wabi sabi is a
tool to reset ourselves,” Russell
says. We can’t change that we
are busy and stressed, but we can
take time to recharge in nature.
Forest bathing is such a respected
activity in Japan, there’s an online
database of prime spots (fo-
society.jp). Bathing in an onsen
is another way to unwind. In
the Shirahama hot spring resort
area in Wakayama Prefecture,
visitors can muse on time and
nature at the centuries-old open-
air baths. In the capital, travelers
can catch their breath at the
Institute for Nature Study, a Tokyo
park where creeks wind though
tree-covered vales.