I’m participating in the #AtoZ April Blogging Challenge 2025 and this will be my third year of joining the vibrant community that loves this one-of-a-kind creative challenge.
This year, my theme is—BOOKS THAT HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE—which means they are not just my favourite books, but they’ve also left a deep and lasting impact on me and continue to do so until this day. I’m also blogging on my other blog—’TheSkyGirlMusings‘—and my theme there is THE A TO Z OF SELF CARE. Do check it out and follow me there, if you are new to it. If you leave your blog link, I’ll be happy to follow you back too. 🙂
Ichigo Ichie: The Art of Making the Most of Every Moment, the Japanese Way
by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles
This book written by Hector Marcia and Francesc Miralles. famous for their international bestseller—Ikigai, is an exploration of the Japanese philosphy of Ichigo Ichie, that emphasises the value of each moment as a unique and precious experience—encouraging one to be mindful and appreciative of the present moment.
It roughly translates as “one time/one meeting/one opportunity,” where no experience repeats itself ever again.
Based on the recommendation of a friend, I first came across a pdf version of the book at a time when I was going through a rough patch in my life. The book got me into a zen-like state, and soon, I felt I had entered a different world, experiencing what you might call a paradigm shift. The new knowledge and a novel way of envisioning my life through the new learnings ushered me into a sense of peace and calm and I couldn’t have been more grateful for that.
I found the book so useful that I even shared the pdf copy with a few of my close friends as well. A few months later, I bought myself a copy to read the book all over again so I could make notes on the side to reflect upon later.
No matter how many times, I’ve read it, every single reading of this book is like a breath of fresh air. There are eight Zen lessons shared by Hector Garcia and Francese Miralles for one to have an Ichigo Ichie Life:
- Just sit and see what happens.
- Savour this moment, as if it were your last breath.
- Avoid distractions.
- Free yourself from everything that isn’t essential.
- Be your own friend.
- Celebrate imperfection.
- Practice compassion.
- Let go of your expectations.
The book talks about how beautiful things in life are fleeting and must not be postponed. I am sure there are a lot of things in this book that can be taken as the key message but for me, it will be this—Life seldom turns out as we might have planned it. The uncertainty and the transient nature of things is perhaps what makes it more precious for us. We are often caught up in our past or fearful about the future.
Going back and forth takes away our capacity to pay attention to what is in front of us.
We hear but we do not listen, we look but we do not see, we feel but we do not experience. Appreciating what is here and now, is so much more important, than spending time inside our head. If we are able to achieve this state of Ichigo Ichie, we may actually find immense joy even in the mundane tasks of our everyday routine.
The other beautiful thing in the book is the concept of the Japanese tea ceremony, used in the book to explain the principles of Ichigo Ichie, which involves using intricate rituals of making tea. Following this method, one is compelled to focus on the present moment. The expression is still used in everyday Japanese even today. T
he philosophy of Ichigo Ichie reminds us that every moment ought to be treasured and valued for itself. Even if we eat the same meal at the same place on two consecutive days, we will not have the same experience, because our state of mind would vary on both the days.
In the words of the authors:
The moment is a jealous lover that demands we give it our all. Every unrepeatable moment is a small oasis of Happiness. And many oases together make an ocean of happiness.
The essence of the book can be aptly summed up through metaphor of the short-lived Sakura (cherry blossom) blossom—which, like the very nature of life itself, is a perfect symbol of transience—and all the experiences we encounter, being temporary and irrevocable, hence the reminder to be ever present and mindful.
If you wish to explore more about this beautiful and powerful Japanese concept, I hghly recommend you pick up this book and do give it a read. I do think you will be experiencing a shift, and yes, do not be surprised if you find yourself on the path to transformation.
That, dear reader, is the power of this beautiful book.
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If you’d like to read the rest of my A to Z posts written for the #AtoZAprilChallenge2025, then please click here to read on.