Senbazuru:
One Thousand Steps to Happiness, Fold by Fold
Michael James Wong Small steps and gentle wisdoms for a meaningful, mindful life
In Japan, the paper crane is a symbol of peace, hope, and healing. Considered the bird of happiness, this mystical and majestic creature is believed to live for a thousand years and, according to tradition, if a person were to fold one thousand paper cranes in a single year, they would be granted a single wish, one that could bring good fortune, eternal luck, long life, and happiness.
We can all use a bit of that right now. In a practical and beautiful new book, Just Breathe founder Michael James Wong shows us how to fold a paper crane in twelve straightforward steps, with each crease an opportunity to slow down and focus on the here and now.
SENBAZURU: One Thousand Steps to Happiness, Fold by Fold (On-sale September 28, 2021; Chronicle Prism; $19.95) uses the ancient and powerful technique orizuru—the art of folding paper cranes—to encourage readers to breathe deeply, build resilience, find gratitude, and live in the present.
The steps require patience and intention—they are not to be rushed. “In our haste for complexity, we can easily be tempted to move too fast and look beyond the present moment,” says James Wong. “We must remind ourselves often to slow down and appreciate one fold at a time.” Each step allows for self-discovery that can be felt long after the Final Fold. I mastered the triangle fold with ease and felt an immediate confidence boost! But the Folded Feather step truly stumped me, and the (many) attempts I made at getting it just right released anxiety and tension I didn’t know I was carrying.
In SENBAZURU, James Wong also shares modern inspiration like, “never rush an act of kindness, time plays its part,” and “if ambition is to arrive, you will never know the beauty of arriving,” which accompany hand-painted proverbs, prayers, and teachings to make for a robust guide to living life meaningfully.
By incorporating anecdotes from his life, and his experience as the founder of Just Breathe, an organization focused on bringing mindfulness into the real world, James Wong inspires us to find the courage to take charge of not just a single piece of paper – or a thousand – but of our own lives. SENBAZURU is for everyone at any time: even if you can only spare a few minutes, reading the smallest bits of wisdom will count immeasurably.
As we continue to celebrate and uplift Asian writers, and with a particular focus on Japanese culture given the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, SENBAZURU should be on your radar for relevant coverage. Excerpts and author interviews are available.
MICHAEL JAMES WONG is a leading voice in the global movement for modern mindfulness, community activist, yoga and meditation teacher, speaker, and author.
In 2016, Wong founded Just Breathe, an organization focused on bringing mindfulness into the real world and building strong supportive communities of likeminded people. Just Breathe events have brought together over 50,000 people for breathtaking and breath-making moments that are curated in collaboration with some of the most iconic international spaces, including the British Museum and Tate Modern Turbine Hall.
In 2019, Wong was named in Balance Magazine‘s 2019 Wellness 100 list. Wong has been featured in the Guardian, London Times, Telegraph, GQ, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Huffington Post, Mind Body Green, BBC Radio, Yahoo! News, and many more news outlets, and he has lectured at the University of Brighton, the University of Bristol, and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, about the benefit of meditation and mindfulness as a way to reduce stress and amplify our own well-being.
Website: www.michaeljameswong.com/ |Instagram: @michaeljameswong
About the author:
Michael James Wong is a community activist, yoga and meditation teacher, speaker, author, and – above all – a leading voice in the global movement for modern mindfulness. In 2016, he founded Just Breathe, and organization focused on spreading mindfulness and building supportive communities of likeminded people. In 2019, Wong was named to Balance Magazine ‘s 2019 Wellness 100 list. Wong has been featured in the Guardian, London Times, Telegraph, GQ, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Huffington Post, Mind Body Green, BBC Radio, Yahoo! News , and many more news outlets. He has also lectured at the University of Brighton, the University of Bristol, and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles about the benefits of meditation and mindfulness as a way to reduce stress.