Have you ever thought that trees can teach us lessons on how to live our lives? I recently learnt of this wonderful Japanese concept. The Japanese principle of Oubaitori (pronounced oh-buy-toe-ree) is just that — a conceptual guide to a fulfilling life based on four trees that blossom in spring in Japan: Cherry, Plum, Peach, and Apricot.
Springtime is usually a festival of colours, with these four trees blooming in shades of pink, mauve, blush and white. Though all of these trees co-exist alongside each other, each of them has a specific order, manner and time when they bloom.
Oubaitori teaches us the incomparable notion of non-comparison. While all these trees produce beautiful flowers, which mature to become juicy fruit, Oubaitori seeks to celebrate the uniqueness of each of them. Each of the fruits and flowers is different in either taste or fragrance from each other. Comparing any of them is really futile.
Now if we extend this concept to life, we all know each of us in our lives is on a unique journey. Each one of us has our own values, our mindsets. Frankly, our experiences in life are also so different from the other and that is what makes it so special. Our choices, our perspectives, and our successes are equally important, just as our failures teach us so much and we end up growing and evolving from those mistakes. On paper, it’s easy to compare two people from the same town, who went to the same school and judge by who is making more money at a certain age. But apart from the fact that money is a stupid metric, this comparison doesn’t tell us everything. We are still different. Some people get lucky with the system, while others are perfectly content with not trying too hard. Even in families if we notice no two siblings even though they are brought up in the same family environment, grow up to become very different individuals, have two very different destinies to live in, and two very different paths to walk on. No two individuals are the same and that’s why comparing any two people is not fair.
Today with social media platforms playing such a huge role in our lives, it’s impossible for us to really miss anything because we all are connected and logged in at all times. In the modern world, social comparison is amplified through technology, leading to people feeling inadequate and unhappy with their lives. We compare to survive, to not fall behind. This instinct can cause a lot of FOMO and frustration, but ultimately, it’s pointless. We scroll through updates of our friends and acquaintances on Instagram and Facebook, and start feeling depressed that our life is not as “perfect”. We read about 25-year-old start-up founders who have made a few million dollars, and think how unfair it is that we are still plodding along in our insipid jobs, despite our good education and experience. With every setback, we ask ourselves “Why me?” And we keep getting more and more anxious when we don’t reach what we think our goal is.
Oubaitori is a refreshing change current culture of always being updated and always having to update. The Oubaitori way is about enjoying a fulfilling life by doing what’s right for you, at the time and in the manner that is right for you.
Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become — Steve Jobs
The practice of Oubaitori involves actively seeking out and pursuing beauty in all aspects of life. It is the art of finding beauty in the ordinary and transforming it into something extraordinary. This can be done through various means, such as spending time in nature, creating art, or even performing daily tasks with mindfulness and intention.
Our uniqueness is what adds that special quality to our character — let’s learn to enjoy our own unique journey to the utmost!
So instead of complaining and constantly comparing ourselves to others let’s learn to celebrate our uniqueness and accept the magic we have inside us.
